Made with Patience: Circular Fashion, Natural Dyes and Collections inspired by the Lagoon

Daniela Lombardo and her sustainable fashion project made in Venice.

Those of you who have been reading my blog from the beginning are well aware by now about how much I love to share stories about the people that make my city a better place. A wonderful soul I met years ago and to whom I had already dedicated a blog post (you can read it here) is fashion designer Daniela Lombardo.

Daniela is more than a seamstress and designer, she is a researcher and an experimenter. The name of her brand mirrors her lifestyle and back in 2020 she decided to open a small atelier in Venice, not far from the centre but outside of the more beaten track.

Daniela designs and creates clothes with natural fabrics, a lot of which recovered from private attics and houses. She believes and promotes circular fashion, transforming already existing items into something new. Most of her collections are inspired by the lagoon and recently she has also started dyeing her shirts, trousers and dresses utilizing scraps of local herbs and vegetables. So, almost 5 years later, I wanted to catch up and ask her about the evolution of her professional journey. Here below our brief conversation.

1. Daniela, you opened this atelier in 2020. How has your profession evolved?

Well, at the beginning I didn’t have a precise plan, the only thing I really knew was that I wanted to mend and sew. I had participated in many markets, but it was only when I opened the shop that I was forced to learn how to organize practicalities, from the creative process to the mere shop management. My aim was and still is to offer an open space, a space that is alive, an atelier that is not only a shop but a place where people meet, exchange ideas and build meaningful connections. In fact, many aperitifs and social occasion have been organized, which have given myself and others the opportunity to widen our horizons and knowledge. I am happy that many of my clients are regulars, locals who believe and support my project and foreigners that return every year and never fail to pass by and say hello, and now I even have a girl who helps me run the shop.

2. Why circular fashion? I have always believed in the no-waste practice. It isn’t always possible of course, but when it comes to fashion (and not only) I think there are already so many quality fabrics and materials that can be re-utilized and turned into new items. I have also found that many of the older clothes present better quality materials. In the past, things were made to last and it would be a real pity not to value and take advantage of them. Besides, scraps encourage us not only to be more sustainable, but also more creative, which is never a bad thing!

3. Where does the inspiration for your collections come from? It comes from many sources, mainly nature. Most of the collections are inspired by the lagoon, my surrounding environment, so unique and delicate. One of my recent projects -the 2024 autumn/winter collection- is called OE! (word used by gondoliers to let other rowers/boats they are arriving at a canal crossway) and was inspired by Venetian boats, in fact it was presented on a sanpierota boat moored in front of the bookshop and teahouse sullaluna in Cannaregio.

When I started, the lagoon inspired me to create shapes and images, patterns and visual references. Currently, I am trying to incorporate it also physically into my items through natural dyes. In January I went to Chennai, in India, where I took part in a dyeing class, so when I returned home I wanted to put into practice my new skills, opting for natural/botanical dyes.

I use local plants and herbs, in particular:

- the leaves of the renown Sant’Erasmo purple artichoke, which give a nice yellow color,

- onion skins, which give an intense orange color. These are provided to me by the restaurant Osteria Anice Stellato. When they prepare the delicious saor they use about 10 kilos of onions and so they have huge amounts of skins and it would be such a waste not to make the most of them!

- and avocado seeds, which give a lovely peach pink color. In January and February Sicily and Calabria produce lots of avocados and my friends and I order boxes of them to enjoy, thus we are left with all the seeds!

4. Do you have a favorite color?

To be honest, the color is never the same. Many aspects affect the result, from the receiving fabric to the material of the pot for boiling, up to the weather and the drying process. Personally, I find all the colors so beautiful and it is fun to experiment. I have also used marigold, dried flowers and indigo extract (the only one I buy).

5. Where do you dye?

In Sant’Erasmo, in an outdoor kitchen. Every phase happens there, so this is why I presented this new collection on the occasion of the Sagra del Carciofo Violetto (the purple artichoke feast). I am now part of the association AgrisArte and enjoy all of our meetings. It is a beautiful reality, truly inspiring for me, and I must say I adore the color resulting from the nettle dye used by Cosetta Ruggero Citon.

6. What do you like and dislike the most about dyeing?

Difficult question, because the whole process makes me feel like a witch experimenting with pots and pans and it is just so much fun. I would probably say that the best moment is when you see the final result, when you see the final color. I don’t think there is anything I dislike, of course it is all an experiment and sometimes things may go wrong, so it can be frustrating to -pass me the term- fail, not achieve what you were hoping for. But… it’s part of the journey and, even in those situations, I am always learning something new.

7. Anything else you would like to mention?

Among the many projects, one that is keeping me busy is the creation of carpets with the longer and narrower fabric scraps. It is not easy to re-utilize these pieces of material: first a bundle is created, and then to make the carpets I use a thick crochet. It requires a lot of patience and dedication, but after all… they are a Made with Patience creation!

I am grateful for the time Daniela dedicated to me and invite you to visit her atelier when in Venice and support her project! In the meantime, you can follow her on Instagram.

Made with Patience

Address: Calle Lion 3385/H Castello, Venice, Italy 30122

www.madewithpatience.com

madewpatience@gmail.com