Italian designer revels in the glory of feathers

难词探意

1. haute couture 高档女子时装

2. billow /'bɪləʊ/ v. 波动；翻腾

3. extravagant /ɪk'strævəgənt/ adj. 奢侈的；不切实际的

4. artisan /,ɑːrtəzn/ n. 工匠；手艺人

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 ( 宪兵) 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

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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. 布拉乔尼不仅是个工匠，还是个发明家，他专门为羽毛设计了十几台机器，并开发了2，000多种染色方法，因为不是每种羽毛的染色方法都一样。

【信息提取】as well as 作介词，意为“除了……之外，还……”，后面常接名词或动名词，相当于besides、apart from、in addition。

【句式仿写】他不但摔断了左腿，而且还伤了胳膊。