ACT N°1

ACT N°1 is a Milan-based designer label founded in 2016 by Galib Gassanoff and Luca Lin. It makes runway collections that blend tailoring, tulle, ruffles and printed patterns inspired by the founders' Azerbaijani and Chinese roots.

What is ACT N°1?

ACT N°1 is an Italian fashion label based in Milan. It was created by Galib Gassanoff, who has Azerbaijani heritage, and Luca Lin, who was born and raised in Reggio Emilia to Chinese immigrant parents. The two met as fashion students in Milan and joined forces in 2016.

Design and positioning

The label is known for dramatic hybrids, such as two garments joined into one, and for tailored suiting decorated with tulle. Recurring elements include large ruffles, traditional Chinese prints, flower patterns taken from ancient paintings and layered see-through fabrics. The founders describe the approach as mixing memories with new techniques, and they place inclusivity, social issues and human rights at the centre of the brand.

The Spring/Summer 2023 collection drew on the masks and motifs of traditional Chinese opera, with corseted denim, sheer tulle bomber jackets and painted silk separates designed to move beyond gender norms.

Recognition

• Named guest designer for the second season of Maison Valentino's programme with Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in July 2022
• Presented a collection on Valentino's channels during Milan Women's Fashion Week in September 2022
• Featured among six rising stars in the Wallpaper* Style Issue of March 2023

Why it matters

ACT N°1 shows how a new generation of Milan designers brings multicultural backgrounds into Italian fashion, and how established houses support emerging labels through visibility schemes.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded ACT N°1?

ACT N°1 was founded by Galib Gassanoff and Luca Lin, who met as fashion students in Milan and joined forces in 2016.

Where is ACT N°1 from?

ACT N°1 is an Italian label based in Milan, drawing on the founders' Azerbaijani and Chinese heritage.

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