Italy, an Extraordinary Commonplace? Stereotypes and Imaginaries of Italianness in Online Communication by Fashion Brands*

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Titel: Italy, an Extraordinary Commonplace? Stereotypes and Imaginaries of Italianness in Online Communication by Fashion Brands*
Autoren: Flavia Piancazzo, Alice Noris, Nadzeya Sabatini, Lorenzo Cantoni
Quelle: Fashion Theory. 28:755-787
Verlagsinformationen: Informa UK Limited, 2024.
Publikationsjahr: 2024
Schlagwörter: Fashion, stereotypes, imaginary, social media, communication
Beschreibung: The paper explores the use of country-related stereotypes associated with Italian identity in the social media communication of 21 Italian fashion brands on Instagram. Focusing on the concept of “made in Italy”, the research employs image content analysis to identify how the selected sample of brands communicates Italian identity globally. The theoretical framework emphasizes the importance of the Country of Origin (COO) concept, indicating that “made in Italy” extends beyond a manufacturing label to encompass cultural, historical, and esthetic dimensions. The analysis reveals Italian fashion brands’ deliberate use of stereotypes, iconic objects, and cultural references to shape and reinforce Italian identity in their digital communication. It highlights the intertwining of these elements, contributing to a multifaceted narrative that extends beyond product promotion. Moreover, it underscores the role of social media, particularly Instagram, in enabling brands to project their Italian identity globally, perpetuating esthetics associated with the concept of “dolce vita”. The study emphasizes the importance of holistic brand communication and the powerful role of Instagram in shaping and reinforcing the global image of “made in Italy”. It also offers insights on utilizing stereotypes and cultural symbols to enhance brand identity, aligning with perceptions associated with Italian cultureFootnote1. 1. 1 This article was collaboratively discussed and structured by four authors. During the drafting phase, Alice Noris curated the first chapter on the research context, while Flavia Piancazzo focused on the chapter presenting the results. The chapters on methodology, discussion, and conclusions were co-authored by Alice Noris and Flavia Piancazzo. Lorenzo Cantoni and Nadzeya Sabatini contributed to the research protocol and in analyzing the images, oversaw the research and helped revising the final text.
Publikationsart: Article
Dateibeschreibung: application/pdf
Sprache: English
ISSN: 1751-7419
1362-704X
DOI: 10.1080/1362704x.2024.2379996
Rights: CC BY
Dokumentencode: edsair.doi.dedup.....331f6c9a3ef94c03a57f23f20fb18ec9
Datenbank: OpenAIRE
Beschreibung
Abstract:The paper explores the use of country-related stereotypes associated with Italian identity in the social media communication of 21 Italian fashion brands on Instagram. Focusing on the concept of “made in Italy”, the research employs image content analysis to identify how the selected sample of brands communicates Italian identity globally. The theoretical framework emphasizes the importance of the Country of Origin (COO) concept, indicating that “made in Italy” extends beyond a manufacturing label to encompass cultural, historical, and esthetic dimensions. The analysis reveals Italian fashion brands’ deliberate use of stereotypes, iconic objects, and cultural references to shape and reinforce Italian identity in their digital communication. It highlights the intertwining of these elements, contributing to a multifaceted narrative that extends beyond product promotion. Moreover, it underscores the role of social media, particularly Instagram, in enabling brands to project their Italian identity globally, perpetuating esthetics associated with the concept of “dolce vita”. The study emphasizes the importance of holistic brand communication and the powerful role of Instagram in shaping and reinforcing the global image of “made in Italy”. It also offers insights on utilizing stereotypes and cultural symbols to enhance brand identity, aligning with perceptions associated with Italian cultureFootnote1. 1. 1 This article was collaboratively discussed and structured by four authors. During the drafting phase, Alice Noris curated the first chapter on the research context, while Flavia Piancazzo focused on the chapter presenting the results. The chapters on methodology, discussion, and conclusions were co-authored by Alice Noris and Flavia Piancazzo. Lorenzo Cantoni and Nadzeya Sabatini contributed to the research protocol and in analyzing the images, oversaw the research and helped revising the final text.
ISSN:17517419
1362704X
DOI:10.1080/1362704x.2024.2379996