CIAOMONDO by Licia Florio X Chapters

Q&A

CIAOMONDO was born in a very specific moment (the lockdown period): what pushed you to create something that went beyond product and became a space for sharing?

CIAOMONDO was born from a real need: mine, but also that of many others. During lockdown, we suddenly found ourselves without spaces, routines, or connection. I felt that offering just a clothing line wasn’t enough — I wanted to create something that could support people’s evolution. We needed a space where people could feel seen, supported, part of something. Not a product, but a presence.

If you had to describe CIAOMONDO today in one sentence, what would you say?

CIAOMONDO is a safe space to return to yourself, through the body, the breath, and connection with others.

Your work moves between body, mind, and community: what’s the common thread that holds everything together?

Presence. Everything starts there: returning to the body, listening, awareness, creating spaces where people can be authentic. The body is the entry point, the mind softens, and the community becomes a natural consequence.

How important is the concept of “community” to you? And when do you feel a community is truly alive?

It’s central. A community is alive when people are not just spectators, but participants — when they share, connect, recognize themselves in each other. When there’s a real exchange, even in silence. When the space belongs to everyone, not just the person who created it.

CIAOMONDO.world is a digital space, but it creates very real connections: how do you build authenticity online today?

By being truly authentic. Not creating characters, not forcing anything. Sharing also the less perfect moments, listening, responding, creating a space that is not just communication but relationship. People can feel immediately when something is real.

Movement (yoga, pilates, breathwork) is at the core of your project: what really changes in people’s lives when they practice consistently?

What changes is the way they relate to themselves. It’s not just a physical transformation, it’s a deeper regulation. You learn how to breathe better, manage stress, listen to your body. And from there, everything outside the mat shifts too.

In your journey there’s been a shift from fashion to wellness: was it a break or a natural evolution?

An evolution. I’ve always worked with aesthetics and language, but at some point I felt the need to go deeper. Wellness became a more authentic form of expression, while my creative vision remained.

The idea of “ritual” often comes back in your work: how important is it today to slow down and create moments for yourself?

It’s essential. We live in a world that constantly pulls us outward. Ritual is a way to return inward, to create small spaces of presence in everyday life. It doesn’t have to be complex — it’s about intention.

CIAOMONDO.world promotes an inclusive approach, open to all levels: what would you say to someone who feels “not enough” to start?

That CIAOMONDO exists exactly for that reason. You don’t have to be ready, flexible, or experienced. You just have to start, exactly where you are. The rest comes with practice.

What role does Milan play in your journey and in the growth of CIAOMONDO?

Milan is both a starting point and a laboratory. It’s a fast, demanding city that increasingly needs spaces to breathe. It’s here that CIAOMONDO created the first Milano Wellness Week — bringing wellbeing beyond traditional spaces, connecting people, places, and different realities across the city.

Milan gave me the energy, the opportunities, and also the challenges to build all of this. CIAOMONDO was born here, but it speaks to a universal need.

I’m looking forward to the next Wellness Week from October 5th to 11th.

You’re also creating physical moments (events, wellness week): what happens when the online community meets offline, like during our event?

Something very powerful happens. People recognize each other, they connect, they bring into reality a bond that already existed. It’s like giving a body to something that was already alive, just invisible.

If CIAOMONDO were a feeling, what would it be?

A place where you can be exactly as you are.