As someone who has always turned her male friends' oversized Carhartts into her new winter jackets, I was stoked to discover Confezioni Crosby. The newly minted outerwear company based right around the corner on our beloved Crosby Street has successfully created a women's line of playful workwear that still maintains a masculine and utilitarian style––but not overwhelmingly so. I headed down the block to visit the couple-cum-designers Benedetta Antonelli and Jonathan Joory at their studio and talk about the brand. Check it out!
DR: First of all, you two are just about the cutest couple ever! How did you meet each other?
BA: Thanks! We actually met a few years back on a ski holiday in Europe. At the time I was living in Italy and Jonathan was here in New York. We spent a couple of years flying between the two until I finally came to live in New York.
DR: And then how did Confezioni Crosby get its start?
BA: The idea of Crosby came about one day when I visited Jonathan's workwear company showroom just after I moved to New York. I immediately fell in love with what I saw. There were coveralls and overalls in every color, big flannel shirts, and all kinds of heavy canvas jackets––and I thought to myself, "This is just what a girl needs to live in this city!" The big challenge was to make these things wearable and flattering for women, and we decided to give it a try.
DR: Is there a story behind the name of the collection?
BA: Yes, we wanted to call it Crosby because we live on Crosby Street in Manhattan, but then I really wanted to give it an Italian edge, since that's where I am from. Confezioni is an old fashioned word in Italian that means tailor-made, so we thought it was perfect.
DR: What’s it like working with your significant other on the line? What does one of you bring to the table that the other may lack?
BA: It's the best thing ever! Only rarely does it get a little rough. Luckily we are able to divide responsibilities, so we compliment each other really well. Jonathan is great at management and production; I am more focused on the creative and design aspects. Though in the end, we also do a lot together.
DR: Is there anything specifically Italian about the collection? Or specifically American?
BA: I would say that the general styling concept and colors are definitely more Italian. Of course, the shapes and silhouettes draw a lot on original American workwear and uniforms.
DR: Where do you find the bulk of your influence for the line?
BA: A big part comes from the whole world of workwear, and especially American uniforms, both modern and vintage. Of course the contemporary fashion scene is always under our eyes, but what I really enjoy is taking in all the people and colors of the places I travel to––they're very inspirational for me.
DR: How did you decide to do workwear specifically for women?
BA: Very simply because I wanted to wear it all! Aesthetically, workwear is very utilitarian and simple, which is something that I love and that I felt made it highly adaptable for women. I also enjoy the challenge of transforming something so basic and masculine into great clothing for women.
DR: What are some unchanged variables that remains constant in your looks from season to season?
BA: We always incorporate cotton canvas and twill, since they are so important in workwear, but
DR: First of all, you two are just about the cutest couple ever! How did you meet each other?
BA: Thanks! We actually met a few years back on a ski holiday in Europe. At the time I was living in Italy and Jonathan was here in New York. We spent a couple of years flying between the two until I finally came to live in New York.
DR: And then how did Confezioni Crosby get its start?
BA: The idea of Crosby came about one day when I visited Jonathan's workwear company showroom just after I moved to New York. I immediately fell in love with what I saw. There were coveralls and overalls in every color, big flannel shirts, and all kinds of heavy canvas jackets––and I thought to myself, "This is just what a girl needs to live in this city!" The big challenge was to make these things wearable and flattering for women, and we decided to give it a try.
DR: Is there a story behind the name of the collection?
BA: Yes, we wanted to call it Crosby because we live on Crosby Street in Manhattan, but then I really wanted to give it an Italian edge, since that's where I am from. Confezioni is an old fashioned word in Italian that means tailor-made, so we thought it was perfect.
DR: What’s it like working with your significant other on the line? What does one of you bring to the table that the other may lack?
BA: It's the best thing ever! Only rarely does it get a little rough. Luckily we are able to divide responsibilities, so we compliment each other really well. Jonathan is great at management and production; I am more focused on the creative and design aspects. Though in the end, we also do a lot together.
DR: Is there anything specifically Italian about the collection? Or specifically American?
BA: I would say that the general styling concept and colors are definitely more Italian. Of course, the shapes and silhouettes draw a lot on original American workwear and uniforms.
DR: Where do you find the bulk of your influence for the line?
BA: A big part comes from the whole world of workwear, and especially American uniforms, both modern and vintage. Of course the contemporary fashion scene is always under our eyes, but what I really enjoy is taking in all the people and colors of the places I travel to––they're very inspirational for me.
DR: How did you decide to do workwear specifically for women?
BA: Very simply because I wanted to wear it all! Aesthetically, workwear is very utilitarian and simple, which is something that I love and that I felt made it highly adaptable for women. I also enjoy the challenge of transforming something so basic and masculine into great clothing for women.
DR: What are some unchanged variables that remains constant in your looks from season to season?
BA: We always incorporate cotton canvas and twill, since they are so important in workwear, but