Miu Miu is pleased to introduce its inaugural Literary Club, Writing Life, a two-day event bringing back into focus the work of Sibilla Aleramo and Alba De Céspedes, alongside conversations, live performances and entertainment, further enhancing Miu Miu’s commitment to contemporary thought. Inspired by Europe’s rich heritage of literary salons and artist collectives, and a reflection of the lives of women past and present through the written word, it is located at Circolo Filologico in Milan.
Miu Miu Literary Club champions two landmark Italian titles: Aleramo’s Una Donna, first published in 1906, and De Céspedes’ Quaderno Proibito, published almost half a century later in 1952. Both works demonstrate the power of writing as a creative medium which, for centuries, has allowed women to express their thoughts, desires and ideologies, asserting their independence and inspiring their own and future generations to do the same.

Miu Miu Literary Club, Writing Life, is conceived to further promote such discourse as well as an understanding of history and education, central both to Miu Miu’s identity and to the lives of women today. In a series of panel discussions and performances curated by educator in Italian culture, language and literature, Olga Campofreda, ideas focussing on women’s position in society – including family, motherhood and work – will be shared and opened up for conversation, springing from the words of these ground-breaking authors.

Speaking about their everyday and creative lives, the thoughts of contemporary authors and commentators will interact with those of the great literary teachers of the past allowing their legacies to enrich the future. Panelists include 2000 Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri, Italian writer and Strega prize finalist Claudia Durastanti, Prize winner filmmaker and writer Sheila Heti, Italian writer Viola Di Grado, writer Selby Wynn Schwartz and Xiaolu Guo, a Chinese-born British novelist, memoirist and film-makers.Panels will be moderated by writer, curator and broadcaster Lou Stoppard and by the Editor in Chief at VICE and VICE UK Zing Tsjeng. Similarly evocative poetry and written word readings will be performed in the afternoon of both days, together with live music performances.

Miu Miu Literary Club is the latest in a series of cultural experiences, devised and supported by Miu Miu, to promote the arts. These include Women’s Tales, an initiative designed to facilitate female film directors, now in its 27th iteration, and collaborations with multi-disciplinary artists for collections and fashion show presentations. Registrations to attend the Miu Miu Literary Club from April 6th on miumiu.com