Italian designer revels in the glory of feathers

難詞探意

1. haute couture 高檔女子時裝

2. billow /'b?l??/ v. 波動；翻騰

3. extravagant /?k'str?v?g?nt/ adj. 奢侈的；不切實際的

4. artisan /,ɑ?rt?zn/ n. 工匠；手藝人

Feathers have decorated many fashionistas throughout history, from Marie Antoinette to Lady Gaga, and one elderly Italian designer continues to fuel the fantasy. “Feathers, for me, are my passion,” said 89-year-old Gianni Bracciani, who comes every day to his workshop in Santo Stefano Ticino, about 30 km (19 miles)west of Milan, to dream up new uses for the colorful feathers. Bracciani has no intention of retiring even after devoting a lifetime in the fashion industry where feathers have played a starring role.

Feathers are a family affair for the designer,who works today with his daughter Emanuela, 51,and nine other employees at “Bracciani Piume”,a business that generates 2 million euros ( 2.2 million) in sales each year. The business dates back to 1883, when Bracciani's grandfather began importing from Parishaute coutureitems, and then feathers were sold throughout Italy to milliners, shoemakers, and tailors by him. His father then took up the business, enlisting 15-year-old Bracciani to help with packing, and later to look for new clients in Europe, especially France. When he took over the business with his wife Lucia, Bracciani made the strategic decision to focus on feathers for clothing. The top couture houses of Italy, France, Britain, and the US then quickly came calling. With rolls ofbillowingfabric and multi-colored feathers at every turn,Bracciani's workshop becomes an Ali Baba's cave.

In one area, a machine blows feathers into sheets of fabric that will end up as luxury down jackets sold in Russia, Japan, and China. The workshop creates the impressive red and blue feathers that top the formal hats of the Italian carabinieri ( 憲兵) police. It also receivesextravagantrequests, such as that from a dancer who wanted a bed made entirely of feathers.Aswell as being an artisan, Bracciani is an inventor, having designed a dozen or so machines specifically for feathers, and developed over 2,000 ways of dyeing them,because not every feather takes to color the same way.

Besides being an encyclopedia on feathers,Bracciani is also full of ideas, his daughter Emanuela says.She is hoping her 17-year-old son will take over the business one day.

Reading

Check

1. Why does Gianni Bracciani go to his workshop every day?

A. He has to make a living.

B. He wants to make more money.

C. He wants to study other uses of feathers.

D. He has to pave the way for his daughter.

2. What's paragraph 2 mainly about?

A. Bracciani's success on feather business.

B. Feathers are a family tradition for Bracciani.

C. Bracciani's focus on feathers for clothing.

D. Feathers are popular among clothing designers.

3. What does Bracciani's daughter think of him?

A. Creative. B. Open-minded.

C. Generous. D. Devoted.

Language

Study

Sentence for writing

As well as being an artisan, Bracciani is an inventor, having designed a dozen or so machines specifically for feathers, and developed over 2,000 ways of dyeing them, because not every feather takes to color the same way. 布拉喬尼不僅是個工匠，還是個發明家，他專門為羽毛設計了十幾臺機器，并開發了2，000多種染色方法，因為不是每種羽毛的染色方法都一樣。

【信息提取】as well as 作介詞，意為“除了……之外，還……”，后面常接名詞或動名詞，相當于besides、apart from、in addition。

【句式仿寫】他不但摔斷了左腿，而且還傷了胳膊。