In 2015 I decided to leave my job in
e-commerce and fully commit myself to the company I was creating. I
started designing my own patterns for pocket squares instead of
using vintage silk, thus allowing me to bring more personality and
uniqueness to the products I was creating. Overtime I have expanded
the company by additionally selling ties, scarves, bowties, and
cummerbunds, all made out of Italian fine silk.
After being in this business for
over three years now, I am grateful everyday that I decided to take
a risk into the unknown and embark on this adventure of being a
woman creating fine silk products for men. I feel very lucky for
all the people who have supported me through this
journey.
What is it that makes you so
passionate about silk?
I have been passionate about silk
for as long as I can remember. Growing up as a little girl at my
parents’ home in Verona, Italy, I was fascinated by the vintage
fabrics they kept in their large wardrobe. I would spend a lot of time
thinking of ways to create products with the
fabrics. My mother was a female
entrepreneur herself and she collected fabrics to use as part of
the packaging for her fine cosmetics business. I would fantasise
what I could create from the pieces and fabrics she collected, and
the fantasy hasn’t gone away with age! From the smooth touch to the vivid shine, I find it so
luxurious and to be able to use it to make classy products for men
was the perfect mix. I have always been inquisitive about what I
can do with silk—whether it be a coat, a dress, or a tie.
To me, silk is magic. The way the light reflects
on it and the sensation you get when you touch it means a lot to
me; I wanted to create products that allowed people to feel what I
also feel.
A few years ago I was with my family
on a boat on our way to Pellestrina (an island near Venice) and
there was a beautiful pink sunset reflected on the water. I said to
my mum, “Look! It seems like silk!” and she exclaimed, “Of course
my dear, you see silk in everything!” And now, we have a pocket square called “Pellestrina” inspired
by that day.
Where does you creativity come
from?
My grandfather was a painter, my
mother is an interior designer, and my father is an architect. Each
of them taught me to see beauty, and to recognize it in the small
details. My passion and creativity are continuations of their own
desire for unique and beautiful things. My family taught me to incorporate this passion into my work.
For instance, my father, a lifelong guitar player, began to collect
guitars in my youth and then moved to designing and selling his own
guitars worldwide. My mother has lived by this principle in her own
life as well, as her detailed touch can be noted throughout all of
her work, even in the table settings she creates.
I draw my creativity not only from
my roots and experience, but also from the things I am most
passionate about and from my own aesthetic approach. I am deeply
interested in food, wines, traveling, and Italian culture in
general —all of which serve as influences in my creative process
(the collection names aren’t just a marketing thing). With all of
the silk accessories I create, I try to tell a story of passion and
beauty. Creativity for me also stems
from finding new ways to reuse old or standard products. The logo I
created for Serà Fine Silk is a perfect example of this. The symbol
was inspired by my first display-- an old mirror with a gold frame.
At the time, I removed the mirror and in its place put some shirt
fabric and pockets, on which I displayed my pocket squares for the
first time. Instantly upon making the display, I felt that it
represented me and the brand perfectly; thus it became the emblem
and logo of the company. Another
example of this situation happened with our signature pocket square
display. It came out from an old musical cassette box (bought in a
flea market), I added a golden frame to the outside and repurposed
it: now it’s the iconic display of our pocket squares!
What inspires your pocket square
designs?
Every collection has a specific
inspiration that is strongly connected with Italy. My products are
not only Made in Italy, but also are inspired by Italian
beauty. I love mixing, revisiting, and
reworking vintage patterns to reflect my own taste. With these
vintage prints, I play with colors to try to transmit specific
feelings. I’m from Valpolicella, a
region in the north of Italy that is famous for wines. Because of
my connection to this region, my first pocket square collection was
inspired by Italian wines. Not only
wines are a source of inspiration but also flowers, islands and
Italian beauty in general. The idea is
to bring a small piece of Italy in your pocket, made out from the
beautiful Como silk, known worldwide for its fine
quality.
Shop the
Sera Fine Silk collection here.
