Biography
Alexandre Mattiussi founded Ami in 2011, after closing down an earlier form of the business in 2002. However, following a meeting with Marc Jacobs ' chief executive Bertrand Stalla Bourdillon, Mattiussi was convinced of the need for investment, and a strong team to support him, in order to give Ami a second try.
The second time around, the label garnered immediate attention from editors, and has fast become a buyers’ favourite. His first collection in 2011 was picked up by Mark Lee of Barneys New York. Today, the brand has over 300 stockists including Selfridges, 10 Corso Como and Saks Fifth Avenue, along with its own boutiques in Paris, Tokyo, London and Hong Kong. He was awarded the prestigious Andam prize in 2013 and currently shows during Paris Men's Fashion Week.
Ami, founded on the principle of Mattiussi dressing his friends, is not intended as direct competition to his prior employers. “I like the idea of dressing as many men as I can,” says the designer; the collection’s easy classics and reasonable price points reflect his ambition. “It is a proposition of real clothes for a real man,” says Mattiussi. “Sales are up by at least 50 percent each season,” and new points of sale are introduced for every season.
In January 2018, Ami announced it would launch "menswear for women" for the brand's Autumn/Winter 2018 season. “I created Ami with this idea of designing clothes for my friends, who are both male and female, so I’ve really always pictured my pieces on both [genders],” Mattiussi told BoF.
Mattiussi studied at Duperré School of Applied Arts in Paris, and began his career in menswear design at Dior Homme, Marc Jacobs and Givenchy, where he jointly led the menswear design team before the arrival of Riccardo Tisci .