In a packed Matera Cathedral, Lucanian designer Michele Miglionico revealed, in the presence of H.E. Mons. Antonio Giuseppe Caiazzo and the “Dressed in the Sun” community, the Jubilee dress dedicated, created and donated to Maria SS. della Bruna, patron saint of the city of Sassi.
The event, part of the 70th anniversary of Matera Civitas Mariae and the 2025 Jubilee, united faith and devotion, providing a moment of intense emotion.
“Dressed in the Sun” is the name of a dress born from an intimate dialogue between the designer and the man.
The designer has in fact declared that the creative process was deeply intimate, full of second thoughts and continuous reflections, but that in the end the dress took shape almost autonomously. It is a Haute Couture dress, rich in details that combine tradition and innovation. It is a tribute to tradition and craftsmanship that reflects a unique dedication to sacred fashion.”
It is a creation inspired by the 1856 copper painting, symbol of the “Shepherds” procession dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna.
The dress is made of silk Duchesse, Valencienne gold lace and silk brocade, has a late Renaissance style bodice in jacquard handcrafted on an ancient loom and the cape, also in silk, decorated with embossed embroidered roses in gold and silver foil, to highlight the Marian symbols. One of the two skirts is entirely doubled in lace completely embroidered with festoons and roses in crystal, pearls and jetto.
A point of pride for the “Needlepoint” lace shirt made by the lace makers of Latronico (Italy), the last custodians of a technique unique in the world. In fact, it took over four months of work to create an object of such preciousness.
Miglionico is among the very few designers to try his hand at creations of such spiritual importance, testifying to a rare artistic and devotional sensitivity.
The event, desired by the Maria SS. della Bruna Association in the person of Dr. Bruno Caiella, was conducted by the journalist Antonella Losignore, and was embellished by the performances of the Associazione Corale Cantori Materani directed by maestro Alessandra Barbaro and the Coro della Polifonica Materana “Pierluigi da Palestrina” directed by maestro Carmine Antonio Catenazzo, who made the atmosphere highly suggestive.