ITALIAN JOURNEY – PROGRAMME 2

SICILY – SICILIAN FASHION

Franco has talked about his work with Sicilian designer Marella Ferrera.

Her clothes sell all over the world, but Marella keeps her studio in the centre of Syracuse.

James: Hello, I’m James!

Marella Ferrera: Hi! I’m Marella.

James: Pleased to meet you! Franco sent me. I would love to see your designs. 

Marella Ferrera: Come on, I’ll show you some of the collection.  Come along, I’ll show you these dresses embroidered with terracotta, look.

James: Incredible!

Marella Ferrera: You see, these are flowers, and they are made from very thin clay.  This is embroidered, and that one  is painted, look!

James: But they can’t be light… aren’t they heavy?

Marella Ferrera: No! This one weighs only 100 grammes, and it’s the best-selling dress in the whole collection.

James: What kind of people buy this dress?

Marella Ferrera: We sell this to Arab princesses, or as a wdding dress for outdoor ceremonies, for example.

James: So it’s a wedding dress?

Marella Ferrera: Yes, it can be a wedding dress.

James: May I touch it?

Marella Ferrera: Of course you can, look! It’s not fragile, it’s very light.

James: Doesn’t it break?

Marella Ferrera: No! For example, this is painted terracotta.  First it is painted, then it is broken, pierced with holes, and crocheted together like a piece of embroidery.  You see, this is a top, very light!

James: Yes, it is, very light. And where did you get the idea of making a dress out of terracotta?

Marella Ferrera: Because I wanted to create a garment embroidered with a material unlike anything you normally see.

James: Here in Sicily?

Marella Ferrera: Of course! In fact, anywhere in the world.  So we thought of terracotta and also lava rock.  Look, I’ll show you something else.

James: But it’s unbelievable that you can make a garment from lava rock.

Marella Ferrera: Look, I’ll show you this embroidery in lava rock… which… are absolutely unique.

James: I’d imagined they were made completely out of lava rock!

Marella Ferrera: Now you can see that they are actually very light, so they actually wear them – they’re not heavy at all.  The lava is cut into very small pieces just like embroidery.

James: Isn’t it technically difficult to use lava rock?

Marella Ferrera: It is difficult, but not impossible.  It just takes a long time, because to make a bodice for example can take up to a month.

James: It must be very expensive!

Marella Ferrera: The most expensive garments go straight to contemporary art museums.  When garments are made for the market we just add small pieces or jewellery.

James: And where did you get the idea to make a outfit from lava rock?

Marella Ferrera: The thing that most influences my creations is my bond with this land. So my decision to live in Sicily has an important significance, because my creations, such as these ones made with lava, are influenced by the volcano.

James: Do you have a favourite place?

Marella Ferrera:  I have lots - the volcano, and Caltagirone, for example.

James: What is Caltagirone?

Marella Ferrera: Caltagirone is beautiful, because its world-famous ceramics and Arabic-inspired designs have definitely had an influence on my work, the embroidery, the choice of colours, and so it is very important to me.  And it embodies the merging of tradition and innovation, because tradition is related to culture, and innovation to thought.  And the way these thoughts are transferred to a garment, for example.

James: Is it true that you can’t work in Milan?

Marella Ferrera: Well! I can sell in Milan, but I can only create in Sicily.