TIBI × Casa Caroseno

When a project becomes a home

The collaboration with TIBI has been something truly incredible.An encounter that honored every effort, every moment, and every intention behind the creation of Casa Caroseno.

This was never simply a capsule collection, but a project in the deepest sense of the word — a shared narrative, a human experience, a vision shaped by people, places, and everyday gestures.

As beautifully described by Amy Smilovic, founder and creative director of TIBI, in her own words — which perfectly capture the essence of this partnership — everything began with one powerful word: Casa.

When Gabriel, part of the TIBI world, discovered a property under development by the Longo family in Castellana Grotte, he was immediately drawn to their vision of hospitality:not a hotel, not a masseria, not a resort.A place defined more by what it was not than by conventional labels. This deeply resonated with TIBI’s own journey of moving beyond rigid fashion categories and finding language that truly reflects identity.

For the Longo family, everything could be distilled into a single word: Home.

The first exchange with Francesca was immediate and instinctive. There was no fixed plan, only a shared curiosity and a desire to understand whether something meaningful could take shape together. What emerged was a strong alignment of values: care for people, respect for craft, and a deep connection to roots.

The TIBI × Casa Caroseno project draws inspiration from the family, the Puglian land, and the stories that inhabit it. The garments were crafted using Italian fabrics from Borghi 1819, one of Italy’s oldest mills, and embody a functional, lived-in beauty. Oversized shirts designed as travel companions, coordinating boxers extending their versatility, and a utility-inspired jumpsuit reimagined with softness and grace.

Nonna, the eternal source of inspiration, is present throughout — in memories of cherry-stained dresses while working the land, in gestures passed down through generations, and in an aesthetic that is never constructed, but lived. This organic spirit is deeply tied to the most authentic Italian way of life.

The photoshoot itself followed this same philosophy. No traditional casting, no constructed sets. Local farmers, artisans, millers, and carpenters wore the pieces as they naturally would in their daily lives. Michele climbed onto his tractor, Francesco returned to the mill, artisans continued shaping marble and wood, and Giovanni, the chef and father, effortlessly used his tailored cotton shirt as an oven mitt while baking bread.

The TIBI × Casa Caroseno project became a meeting point between fashion, hospitality, and real life — a collective story in which every individual played a role, and where one person’s success became shared success.

We don’t know where this project will lead, and we’re in no rush to define it. When the right people come together, something meaningful already exists.And here, without question, it already does.