In the beginning, I was very punk. I was very revolutionary. When they asked me to do Givenchy, I didn't want to do it. My friends pushed me. But the situation with my family was so bad financially. I really did it because, when they told me how much they would pay me, I saw that my sisters and my mom could have a better life.

We are Italian. We are all little tribes - not only in fashion, but also in music - in everything, basically.

I didn't know I was going to become a designer; I was going to become a successful person, but I really wanted to be free.

In the beginning, to be honest I was super-scared. I turned up and took a step back and said, 'I am here to learn,' and I feel the same today. I've got only to learn from these people because they have been doing couture for 30 or 40 years, so I keep learning every season.

I love art and music more than I love fashion, to be honest.

These five years as a couturier have really changed my way of seeing fashion and my confidence with fashion. Couture is a dream.

Couture is more your own world, they come and buy head-to-toe ­ - they buy the jewelry, bags, coats, dresses, bodies underneath.... But couture is not dead ­ - it's taken another shape.