The Business of Fashion Podcast

Episode: An Act of Love: Securing Franca Sozzani’s Legacy
Host: Imran Ahmed
Guest: Francesco Carrozzini
Release Date: November 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the life and lasting influence of Franca Sozzani, legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, through the eyes of her son, Francesco Carrozzini. Imran Ahmed sits down with Francesco in Doha, Qatar, to discuss not only Franca's profound cultural impact and mentorship but also how Francesco seeks to honor and evolve her legacy—most recently through the Franca Fund for Preventive Genomics, an ambitious initiative aimed at advancing genomic screening in newborns. The episode moves deftly between intimate memories, reflections on grief, and the practicalities and philosophical meanings of securing a legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Growing Up Inside Vogue Italia

• Francesco describes his unique childhood:
  • Vogue Italia’s offices became his playground; he made his own magazines from clippings and spray-glue.
  • For much of his early years, he was unaware of his mother's cultural importance, simply thinking she “sold newspapers.”
  • The reality dawned as he got older, especially with incidents like Naomi Campbell picking him up from school.

    “I said, she sells newspapers. Because I really had no idea until I was like, 8 or 9 what she really did.” (03:32)

Realizing Franca’s Cultural Impact

• Understanding came with age—especially as external attention increased.
  • Initially felt awkward about the privileges and the extraordinary people around him (e.g., being at Madonna’s birthday at age 10).
  • In his teens and early adulthood, realized Franca’s work was meaningful, pioneering, and increasingly influential.

Pursuing His Own Path

• Francesco initially chose photography, influenced by proximity to icons like Peter Lindbergh and Steven Meisel, but longed for his own identity.
  • Photography offered a way to travel and learn, but portraiture—not fashion—was his main interest.
  • COVID-19 “pause” prompted him to pursue filmmaking more deeply, leading to his documentary about his mother.

The Documentary ‘Chaos and Creation’

• A candid, complex collaboration, which became a form of closure.

  • Started the project years before Franca’s illness was known; initially intended to record family history after his father’s death.

  • Franca’s blunt feedback—“this is the most mediocre thing I’ve ever seen. Do yourself a favor, find a point of view.”—became a life lesson.

    “Always try and find a point of view. Don't do anything without that.” (09:44, 01:48)

  • Realized, with help from producer Amy Berg, that the film needed his story as well.

  • The final cut premiered at Venice; the festival screening became an emotional, mutual farewell.

    “...the lights turn on and everyone’s crying… me and her look at each other and we’re like, this is sort of our last big moment together.” (12:11)

Franca’s Directness and Mentorship

• Her mentorship was underpinned by honesty and belief in others:
  • Feedback was direct but never judgmental—it was about seeing potential beyond what was delivered.
  • “Your mom gave me freedom, but challenged me… she’d be like, listen, this is not good enough for you. You're just better than this.” (13:31–14:17)
  • Her genius was “recognizing other people’s genius” and enabling them to shine.

Moving from Memory to Legacy

• Desire to do more than just preserve memory—wanting to create meaning and collective benefit:
  • “Legacy… is not just keeping someone’s memory, it’s about turning something personal into something collective.” (16:53)
  • Inspiration for the Franca Fund grew from meeting Dr. Green at Harvard and a fascination with genomics—wanting to prevent the disease that took Franca’s life.

Why Genomics?

• Genomic screening offers actionable insight, especially for newborns:
  • Can identify risks and conditions early, allowing for interventions that could save lives.
  • Focus on newborns: more time to track and act on health, potential to prevent life-altering conditions.
  • “The most simple notion… is knowing is power. Knowledge is power.” (21:53)

Establishing the Franca Fund

• Partnered with Dr. Robert Green, focusing efforts and funding on pioneering genomics studies in newborns:
  • The field has advanced quickly; research supported by the Fund helps multiply impact (e.g., securing large NIH grants).
  • Fundraising is challenging, particularly with shifting political climates and regulatory hurdles, especially in the U.S.

Gala in Qatar

• First major fundraising gala held in Doha, leveraging both fashion and scientific communities:
  • Chose Qatar for its innovation-friendly environment and existing relationships (Sheikha Mayasa and Anna Wintour).
  • Sought to unite global and local supporters, with an aim to endow pivotal research and spark future collaborations in the region.

    “The big vision and the big dream is… let’s test any newborn for as many conditions as possible and save lives.” (25:05)

Personal Reflections on Grief, Legacy, and Connection

• Francesco’s own son has had the scan; he sees the Fund not just as Franca’s legacy, but his own—and possibly for future generations.

• Emphasizes Franca’s true legacy as her generosity, kindness, and ability to believe in others, sometimes more than they believed in themselves.

  “If it’s not strange, it’s not new. If it’s not new, it won’t matter. Just dare, be courageous, believe in yourself.” (34:41)

• On grief:

  “What made me feel so resolved about this loss was… having been able to tell her everything I wanted to tell her through that film.” (36:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:48 | Francesco Carrozzini| “This is the most mediocre thing I’ve ever seen. Do yourself a favor, find a point of view… always try and find a point of view.” | | 12:11 | Francesco | “...the lights turn on and everyone’s crying… me and her look at each other and we’re like, this is sort of our last big moment.” | | 14:17 | Francesco | “Your mom gave me freedom, but challenged me… she’d be like, listen, this is not good enough for you. You're just better than this.”| | 16:53 | Francesco | “Legacy, you know, memory and legacy often get confused… I really wanted something meaningful, an act of love, taking something personal and making [it] collective.” | | 21:53 | Francesco | “The most simple notion… is knowing is power. Knowledge is power.” | | 25:05 | Francesco | “The big vision and the big dream is… let’s test any newborn for as many conditions as possible and save lives.” | | 34:41 | Franca Sozzani | “If it’s not strange, it’s not new. If it’s not new, it won’t matter. Just dare, be courageous, believe in yourself.” | | 36:10 | Francesco | “What made me feel so resolved about this loss was… having been able to tell her everything I wanted to tell her through that film.”|

Important Segment Timestamps

• Francesco’s childhood inside Vogue Italia: 03:32–06:31
• Discovering Franca’s influence: 06:31–08:44
• Making the documentary & Franca’s feedback: 09:11–11:35
• Reflecting on Franca’s mentorship style: 13:31–14:36
• From memory to meaningful legacy: 16:53–19:55
• Explaining preventive genomics: 20:03–22:29
• Establishing the Franca Fund: 22:55–25:05
• Fundraising, the gala, and global efforts: 27:10–31:47
• On Franca’s legacy, grief, and closure: 34:19–37:36

Themes and Takeaways

• Legacy beyond Remembrance: True legacy comes from channeling personal loss into collective benefit. The Franca Fund for Preventive Genomics embodies Franca’s ethos of vision, courage, and generosity in a new context.
• Courage and Individuality: Franca’s mentorship inspired countless creatives to dare, take risks and believe in their own unique vision.
• Science Meets Fashion: The partnership of fashion-world influence and cutting-edge science can drive change—and save lives—across boundaries.
• Personal Healing through Purpose: Transforming grief into purposeful action helps secure closure and contributes meaningfully to society.

For more on Franca Sozzani’s legacy and the mission of the Franca Fund, listen to the full episode or visit the Business of Fashion.