Five years ago I was sitting in my room on a hot afternoon, looking out at the backyard in silence. I wasn't sure what I was building yet. I just knew I wanted to create something authentic. Something with meaning. That idea stayed with me for years. I wrote notes, collected inspiration, filled folders with images and slowly shaped what I wanted it to become. Then, two years ago, Forbidden Fruits finally came to life.

I grew up obsessed with old vintage photographs. Especially the ones of my mum at my age big hair, shoulder pads, glitter, completely herself really. She worked in fashion her whole life and she dressed like she meant every bit of it. That image never left me. Neither did the old 70s and 80s editorials I kept returning to, the softness, the light, the styling, the way everything felt so considered.

Those eras continue to shape how I see fashion today.

For me, clothing has always been more than something you wear. It's memory. Expression. Confidence. Nostalgia. A way of telling a story. Fashion was always present growing up. I'm from a large Italian family where getting dressed was never an afterthought. Whether it was a family gathering, a Sunday lunch or simply heading out for the day. There was an appreciation for quality, personal style and the ritual of getting ready.

Vintage shopping also became a huge source of inspiration for me. I spent years searching through op shops and vintage stores, drawn to pieces with history, character and craftsmanship. I loved imagining where they had been, who had worn them and the stories they carried. 

Today, Forbidden Fruits is more than a label. It's a growing community of people who value self expression and dressing for themselves first. Forbidden Fruits lives in the everyday. In the rituals of getting ready, the places you go, the people you meet and the moments that become memories.

Every piece begins slowly. We spend months in development, refining silhouettes, adjusting fits, sourcing fabrics and sampling until it feels right. We don't rush this stage because it's the most important part of what we do. A garment can only become timeless when it's given the time it deserves.

Our garments are produced in small quantities with our makers in China at a BSCI-certified factory. We work closely with skilled craftspeople who share our commitment to quality, thoughtful construction and attention to detail. 

Nothing is accidental. I design for you in your own space.

Alone. Unobserved.

Not performing. Not becoming something else.

Just meeting yourself, fully.

The pieces aren't there to change you. They're there to turn the volume up, softly.

That's why I started. Forbidden Fruits is a reminder that art begins in the body.

Giulia.