Mika Instagram – The story of the smiling tiger began a few years ago when my mother made me a birthday card. Along with an illustration of flowers growing from my head read the message ‘may your head always bloom’. But what did it mean and how did it become my manifesto? Well… if your head always blooms, then you will always have ideas and that will make you strong and resistant. And those ideas will turn you into a tiger, fierce, happy and roaring with pride. Over the last two years I wanted to be that tiger and set about opening my own Atelier. Now fully operational, it has become a humble but growing dream factory where we bring to life my designs. Clothes, suits, original art, sculptures, masks and giant hand stitched flowers…and guess what? It’s only the beginning. This has all been made possible because of Italy. From Martina Franca where I have set up the sartorial and costume atelier alongside Bruno Simeone to the Tuscan artisans, flower sculptors in Reggio Calabria and the incredible tiger head maker Emanuela dall’Aglio in Parma. Italy has amazing talent and resources. Thank you to everyone who has helped me turn these daydreams into a reality and I promise this is just the start of many many more creations that are about to bloom 🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚 #AtelierMika @brunosimeone @carolinastamerragrassi @emanueladallaglio @annalisalaleo 📷 @danilodauriafoto