Do you know when you go to a very boring dinner and you sit down and you have the chance to talk with somebody and it's so interesting that you learn so much that night that you go back and say, "Oh, finally, I met someone who inspired me"? I love that.
Franca SozzaniI was doing the Black Issue in 2006 and then went to Africa for Uomo Vogue. I've worked with Gucci and Fendi, committed to create jobs. Fifty percent of those ads went to non-government organizations in Africa. [Nelson] Mandela was on the cover, it helped create attention.
Franca SozzaniI don't think when you work you have to please everybody - you make a choice. It's not like everybody who is in front of you has to become your best friend.
Franca SozzaniI need to protect myself from everybody. I see so many people all day, all demanding their own jobs, their own opportunities, so in a way, I make a distinction. I'm very difficult about opening myself up with people at first . . . It just takes time.
Franca SozzaniIn New York there are between four and six big designers, and the shows last one week. There is something wrong here. It's our fault. We can't stand up for it. They take our ads, don't they? Why don't they want to stay longer in Milan? Why do we have to comply? We have the most beautiful brands, they are Italians.
Franca Sozzani