From Italy, With Love

As you may not know I am a huge fan of texting, emailing and, most importantly, Skype! I believe most of my catching up with family and friends from afar is done by skyping them, so it's no surprise that for this particular feature that I would use none other than my wonderful skyping tool, especially since I was unable to make haste to head across the pond this time around.

Today, FASHION TALES will fly to Italy to introduce you to an emerging designer of ingrained art influenced garments: Lucia Squillari, the young lady behind the women’s label, Larimeloom. 

Squillari designs feminine, feel-good apparel that has the ability to give you a radiant glow naturally, even in her loose-fitting silhouettes. She may not be traditionally trained, however the garments that she produces showcases a special designing eye that says otherwise.

The Italian native from Alba creates one-of-a-kind pieces and made-to-measure garments for clients worldwide, allowing them to choose from her on-line shop or customise any items wanted by request. Each piece in Squillari’s line is handmade personally by the designer herself right from her home studio using materials from silk and cotton to leather, linen, mixed wool, and blended knits. 

“I do everything myself right now, but I like it that way, I think I'd get tired of doing only one part of the process.”

  

Some of my favourites in her line are basic styled garments or draped pieces – ones that I’d definitely wear in diverse ways. Much of the beauty in her collection lies within the dying methods that she selects, which is cleverly offset by collaborating with an artist who exercises in [yarn dyes] using natural plants, such as onions, berries, leaves, and roots to achieve rich colour. You can see the difference in the herbal and hand-dyed technique in some of Squillari’s lovely accessories, for example in her hand woven garnet red shawl.

There’s so many reasons that I felt compelled to introduce this emerging designer; admiring her attention to detail whether by fabrication or sheer focus on creating versatile styles. However, ample simplicity is just as important throughout the collection. Squillari’s a young woman who wants to have fun with fashion, but doesn't get caught up in the hype of today’s market and race to stardom.

Instead she’s grounded by her local community, and staying true to herself with her passions. “I must also admit I do not aspire the high-fashion runways. I hate fast paces and stress, so I think I wouldn't have as much fun in the real fashion world,” said Squillari.  

   

It was a pleasure to speak with an independent designer who expresses such harmony in her easy-living designs as much as sharing her gift to the world; on a greater note wanting to make a woman look and feel good in everyday threads with a handmade touch.

For more information you may visit her on-line shop here!  

Getting to know Lucia Squillari:

On design inspiration… “I don’t follow the fashion world very closely, I mostly just do my thing, evolving ideas from other ideas and letting the fabric talk to me.” 

Lessons & learning…On advice to aspiring designers… “Try to have as much fun with it as possible, don’t worry over what you’re doing.... and of course SEW SEW SEW! The only way to grow stronger in something is by doing it!”

Next on the agenda… “I am pretty happy where I am right now, I would like to have my pieces in more stores locally and a larger work space - that is truly necessary!”


Photos: courtesy of Larimeloom