Venezia da Vivere presents sartorial fashion with Le Mani Sapienti at Palazzo Sagredo
Venice celebrated artisanal excellence and sustainable fashion with the third edition of Le Mani Sapienti, an event dedicated to sartorial fashion and contemporary design, hosted in the historic spaces of Palazzo Sagredo during Venice Fashion Week 2024. Curated by Venezia da Vivere, the event brought together nine brands and three creative partners, selected for their ability to unite the art of craftsmanship with the pursuit of innovation.
The exhibition showcased emerging designers working between bespoke manufacturing and upcycling, in dialogue with haute couture, combining traditional techniques and creativity to bring new aesthetic visions to life.
The event, conceived and curated by Laura Scarpa, featured sartorial designers Alessandra Micolucci with her organic garments created with nature, Angie Power and cosmopolitan elegance, BVL Venezia, interpreter of Venetian velvets from Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua. (mine de rien) presented pleated garments with fluid geometry, and Teod’Amar showcased artisanal creativity with unique pieces reminiscent of distant travels.
Among the interior design brands, Martina Vidal Venezia, present in all previous editions with clothing collections, this year presented a tableware collection where Burano lace dialogues with certified pure linen. ADJ Style welcomed guests with a performance and its philosophy of “conscious design,” Curiosité Artisanale enchanted with its ethereal paper flowers, and Gaetano Di Gregorio united ceramics and architecture in a synthesis inspired by Carlo Scarpa.
The spatial design and harmony of the gathering were entrusted to the creativity of Nonsoloverde – Serra dei Giardini, DR Light&Design and Bellini Canella. Together they created the atmosphere that highlighted the artisanal and sustainable soul of each creation.
Discover the protagonists of the 2024 edition
Alessandra Micolucci
Exploring the potential of sustainable design by proposing collections that combine contemporary aesthetics and respect for the environment. Venetian designer Alessandra Micolucci develops each creation with durability, waste reduction, and the use of ecological materials in mind.
Alessandra is a fashion designer turned seamstress. She hand-dyes the (organic) fabrics of her garments with leaves from various plants, peels, and bark from her dye garden. Her creations are fashion nourished by time, nature, and care for materials, with each garment requiring weeks of work.
“I don’t feel part of fashion, I feel born in art” she says, reflecting on the distance that separates her artisanal approach from industrial production. With two angelic and similar models, she narrated and demonstrated the entire production process of her collections: “A garment made with natural dyes is never identical to another, just as each person carries their own uniqueness.”
Angie Power
Founded by Angèle Donà dalle Rose, a designer from an ancient Venetian family, the independent brand Angie Power was born from the influence of Venice and London, two iconic cities whose rich cultural heritage has deeply inspired the designer’s creative journey. The collections harmoniously combine the romantic aesthetic of French couture, Italian glamour, and the classic elegance of British heritage, creating a unique style that blends different sartorial traditions.
Raised between Paris and Venice, Angèle inherited from her parents a love for craftsmanship and sartorial techniques. Her training includes a Master’s in Design and Fashion History at the Royal College of Art in London, which allowed her to deepen her understanding of couture’s roots and explore sartorial techniques with rigor. “For me, fashion is a language that evolves, but must not lose respect for those who work and those who wear it” she stated, speaking of her commitment to sustainable and conscious fashion. On her creative philosophy: “A dress must inspire dreams, but also live, carrying with it a story that resists the seasons.”
For the Le Mani Sapienti event, Angèle transformed the Music Room of Palazzo Sagredo into a theatrical space, enriched by hyperrealistic paper flowers created by her friend Juliana Stolberg. Her presentation included velvet jackets with feathers, brocade corsets, and silk evening gowns, evoking imagery from another era.
BVL Venezia
Rock velvet: “My project is the reinterpretation, according to fashion and glamour, of the family velvets.” Raised among antique looms and precious fabrics at Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua, Giulia Bevilacqua created her independent brand BVL Venezia, featuring clothing, bags, and fashion accessories.
“Using these fabrics is like carrying a piece of Venice into everyday life,” Giulia recounts, explaining how each creation derives from meticulous artisanal work that pursues durability.
Young and contemporary design, enriched with a glamorous touch: velvet bags with leather details Made in Italy crafted by master artisans from workshops in the Riviera del Brenta, hats decorated with velvet bands, and “Le furlane represent for me the discreet elegance of Venice, an art of dressing that needs no ostentation to be recognizable.”
(mine de rien)
Origami-silk dresses, cuts and three-dimensional effects create chiaroscuro and undulations for works of art in motion. These are the unique garments of the brand (mine de rien) by Francesca Venuti, who reinvents the art of pleating, one of the most ancient and fascinating sartorial techniques, whose origin dates back to the ancient Egyptians and which was made famous in fashion by Mariano Fortuny.
Francesca learned this technique from ancient Florentine masters, using specially created cardboards to form the pleats, which are passed down and reused until they wear out. “Each pleat carries a story with it.”
For Francesca, pleating is a sartorial language that evolves in a contemporary key, giving life to organic volumes that adapt to the body’s movements, offering a fluid and dynamic aesthetic. “I don’t work on seasonal collections, but on capsules that I create when I deem it necessary. Each garment must last over time and not be tied only to the trends of the moment.”
The pleating of (mine de rien) is made using high-quality fabrics from end-of-roll materials from major Italian brands, such as Zegna and Loro Piana. Francesca recently collaborated with a Turin brand to introduce pleating in leather goods, creating a capsule collection of bags that combines craftsmanship with minimal and modern design.
“Pleating is an art form that never ceases to amaze, transforming according to the body’s movements and adding magic to each garment,” for a fashion that respects the history and individuality of those who wear it.
Teod’Amar
Designer Norma Marzà presented the new limited-edition collection of oriental jackets, a precious unique piece that becomes a passepartout for different occasions.
Teod’Amar is a project that includes dresses, kimonos, furlane, and jewelry bags handmade in Venice with natural and upcycled materials, entirely designed and created by the designer, from conception to final product, in the mainland workshop and the new Venice showroom in Campo Manin.
“I am proud to maintain production that always remains under our control, without outsourcing. It’s demanding, but it gives authentic meaning to each piece,” Norma explained. The brand stands out for its timeless aesthetic, looking to the future without forgetting its cultural roots. Her attention to detail is reflected in the choice of materials. “I like to start from the raw material, from the fabric, to then create unique and coordinated pieces that maintain aesthetic harmony but are limited in time, and perhaps will never be repeated identically.”
Norma describes her production as a lifestyle work that is not limited to accessories, but expands toward a range of coordinated products: “Sustainable and versatile: for me, this is the future of craftsmanship.”
Martina Vidal Venezia
“Our goal is to create a product that not only represents Venice, but is also designed to last, to be appreciated over time“: Marta Perissinotto of Martina Vidal presented the new Leone collection, which unites the craftsmanship of Burano lace with traditional techniques and Made in Italy materials. Tablecloths made of Masters of Linen – traceable in every production phase – recovering a Renaissance printing technique that uses carved wooden blocks and allows colors to be fixed using water vapor, respecting the environment and reducing the use of chemical products.
The Leone collection represents Venice’s ability to renew its artisanal tradition while meeting the appreciation of international clients. “Today’s customer is aware, desiring a product that is not only beautiful but also capable of lasting over time. At a time when fashion seems to run too fast, our message is to slow down, focusing on an artisanal product and sustainable rhythms.”
ADJ Style
Technological innovation and design come together in ADJ Style, the Ferrara-based brand of furnishing accessories and custom furniture founded by engineer and designer Ekaterina Borovkova.
A multifunctional leather, designed to resist scratches, abrasions, and harsh weather conditions, ensures durability and functionality for villas, yachts, private jets, hotels, and homes. Inspired by the concept of Synesthetic Design, which combines tactile, visual, and olfactory elements, the brand adopts a unique approach to interior design, enriching the client’s sensory experience.
“For me, sustainability is not only respect for the environment, but also for time and history,” Ekaterina explained, emphasizing the importance of creating objects that can be loved and cherished for a long time: “An object made with heart and to last is the best investment we can make, for ourselves and for those who come after us.”
Juliana Stolberg – Curiosité Artisanale
Paper becomes a work of art in the hands of Juliana Stolberg, young founder of the brand Curiosité Artisanale. In her Venice studio, she transforms paper from Florence into realistic flowers, using natural dyes such as beet juice and coffee.
Originally from Belgium and Germany, Juliana studied in the Netherlands, Paris, and Milan, developing a creative path from graphic design to bookbinding. This eclectic background has allowed her to master techniques from different artisanal traditions, which she now uses to create flowers that capture the fleeting essence of nature. “The paper flower is not just a decorative object, but an invitation to take time to appreciate ephemeral beauty and to reflect on respect for nature“.
Her passion for flowers stems from childhood memories. Each creation is a tribute to the time and patience required by natural processes. For Le Mani Sapienti, she presented her works as an invitation to “rediscover poetry in the simplicity of paper,” showing how an apparently simple material can transform into a lasting representation of natural beauty.
Gaetano Di Gregorio
Clay fuses the tradition of Venetian terrazzo with contemporary design and architecture in the ceramics of Gaetano Di Gregorio. The objects recall Venetian flooring, palladiana, and materials from the local architectural tradition, combined with modern forms that explore new aesthetic and functional dimensions. “My work would not be what it is if I were not here in Venice,” Gaetano recounted, describing how the city and its details inspire him directly, from materials to architectural lines.
His journey is enriched by encounters with master ceramists and continuous experimentation. Ceramics is a space for dialogue between ancient and new, where each piece acquires its own personal imprint, thanks to the intrinsic value of manual craftsmanship. “I have always felt the need to put my mark on each piece, to modify it, to make it perhaps a bit more imperfect compared to machine-made,” he explained, emphasizing how imperfection makes each object unique: handmade work represents the essence of his craft, a process that respects the natural imperfection of materials and celebrates the authenticity of each piece.
Gaetano also explores the dialogue between interior design, architecture, and fashion, interpreting them as parts of an indivisible and interconnected heritage. “I believe it is inevitable that these disciplines contaminate each other, because they represent our cultural and creative heritage.” His creations are the result of continuous inspiration, which crosses different artistic fields to bring the uniqueness and strength of Italian craftsmanship into a contemporary key.
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Venice Fashion Week is a project by Venezia da Vivere and is part of the Major Events of the Municipality of Venice. It is a culture and fashion event created in 2013 by Venezia da Vivere, a Venetian company that deals with digital communication, city projects, and events.
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Photos by Settimo Cannatella, Marta Formentello, and Igor Serdyukov.
