Barena Venezia: the timeless tradition of the Lagoon

Barena Venezia clothes are inspired by the leaders of the lagoon tradition of the early twentieth century

Made of fine, natural and strictly Italian fabrics, they offer an elegant yet sober style that combines the most classic lines with innovation; Barena Venezia has been producing timeless dresses and coats since 1961. The name is already a mission statement: “barena” is the Venetian lagoon area between the mainland and the sea, dotted with islands and fjord that are periodically submerged by the sea. Here in ancient times you could find populations of hunters and fishermen with a unique dressing style, even in the versatile and functional style of the clothing.

And it is from these flavours of the Lagoon that Barena gets its inspiration. At the base of its creations there is always the recovery of the original craftsmanship skills typical of the Veneto area. Each item is created after studying the design and the fabrics used in the Venetian estuary in ancient times. Many samples have drawn their inspiration either from clothes displayed in museums or from portraits found in books of the early twentieth century, both for the style and for the choice of fabrics used.

A family passion, born in 1961 with Sandro Zara, followed with dedication by his children Francesca and Giovanni Zara and supported in the collection design and creation by Massimo Pigozzo.

Barena offers a reinterpretation of the tradition that bases its roots in the fundamental cornerstones: the love for high quality fabrics, natural and Italian, wool, silk, linen. The yarns are produced in the Veneto hinterland, always outstanding in the weaving of wools and not only; colours are the ones of the nature that surrounds the lagoon, the colours of the changing vegetation connected to the passing of the seasons.

The attention to detail is extraordinary, and so it is the research on the performance of the different fabrics, their lightness and resistance; these are consistent and put into practice by everyone in the company, in order to create clothing of high-quality tailoring, elegant and sober: comfortable clothes made to be worn and lived in.

The classic lines are enriched with details such as elbow patches and sharp-edged finishing, able to give the whole line a very distinctive personality. The jackets are those of the carpenters and the trousers are similar to those of the fishermen who lived in the last century.

The ‘Tabarro’ is indispensable: the rounded cloak in dark and impermeable linen, whose origins are lost in ancient Greece, has became the shoulder clothing of the Venetians for centuries, worn by Marco Polo, kings and brigands.

Today the Tabarro is a piece of great elegance, worn as a personal fashion choice and often chosen for its timeless practicality. And it was Sandro Zara who brought it to the attention of the world, rediscovering it in its trendy version, putting it into production and launching it on the market with courageous choices and brilliant intuitions.

Barena Venezia and Venezia da Vivere toghether for the Art Biennale Experience

This year Barena Venezia has collaborated with #ArtBiennaleExperience for the #BiennaleInstameet, a project created by VeneziadaVivere.com. The event will be attended by a group of Instagramers, dressed in the classic navy color of Barena, who are coming to the lagoon to talk about the Vernissage of the 2017 Biennale d’Arte, entitled “VIVA ARTE VIVA” curated by Christine Macel. With live-blogging on Veneziadavivere.com, BarenaVenezia.com, on the social networks of @BarenaVenezia, @Veneziadavivere and, of course, in the respective social profiles of the participants in the studio, we will tell the event in Venice.

As many of you already know, the days of the Biennale can become so exhausting that the day becomes night in the blink of an eye. To make these moments lighter and more comfortable, Barena Venezia has created the perfect Bienniale’s outfit: a selection of jackets, dresses, shirts and bags, perfect for a day spent wandering through the pavilions and for being still impeccable at the evening aperitif.

The young participants at #ArtBiennaleExperience express their creativity through photography, a contemporary and fast support to capture their experiences and tell stories, which creates a contrast perfectly in tune with the characteristic mood of Barena.