Italian denim expert, collector and designer Antonio Di Battista has recently presented “My Archive III”, third book of a series focused on his own vintage denim collection.
The project was accomplished thanks to his collaboration with Tab, Italian publishing house, also managing the Italian specialized denim fair Denim Boulevard.
This third book closes the “My Archive” series of publications previously launched in 2013 and 2015. All three volumes present photographs of a selection of some of most inspiring historical American denim pieces from Di Battista’s own collection. The first “My Archive” presents the expert’s most favorite items from the 1900s to the 1950s. The second book “My Archive II”, launched in 2015, concentrates on some of most significant period workwear pieces from the 1800s until the 1950s stressing all different employs and works they were worn for and their different ageing levels.
This last book also examines some most visually interesting pieces from the same length of time though especially focusing on details and signs of the time according to three main categories and therefore chapters – Fades, Distressed and Repair.
“Good things come in three,” commented Di Battista who considers himself a “sui generis” collector because differently from others, mostly keeping deadstock or barely worn garments, he prefers to buy worn-out and aged clothes. “I’m an unusual collector and I give priority to the garment’s general aesthetic. The most important details I look for in vintage pieces are the fabrics and I specifically prefer heavy ones, very old-and-worn, and washed as little as possible; then the tone, dark but with a very marked wear and tear; the distressed spots...as every job had its own; and finally I look at the fading, damages, stains, patina, patches and all in all the garment’s whole look. Basically everything I’m showing in this book.”
