Sardinia’s Rossana Orlandi gallery plays host to an exhibition by Maria Sole Ferragamo, the jewellery designer behind sustainable brand So-Le Studio, this summer. The space in Porto Cervo is a chic home for Ferragamo’s exhibition of repurposed leather pieces which, as well as functional items to be worn, are also miniature sculptures in their own right.
‘I create one piece at a time, presenting it when it's ready and including it in our permanent, but evolving collection,’ says Ferragamo. ‘The “Dido” necklace, for instance, is one of my very first creations – I presented it for the first time at my Central Saint Martins degree show back in 2016.’ Composed of two pieces of leather joined together, it fits snugly over the wearer’s shoulders and is soft and comfortable.
It joins other pieces including the ‘Luminous’ necklace and the ‘Leila’ cuff, both also designed for a supple fit. Last year’s ‘Spin’ cuff, referencing the slap-on bracelets of childhood, adds a fun edge, while the ‘Tirabaci’ earrings, one of Ferragamo’s first designs, are a particular highlight. ‘Here I focused on structure, giving the leather the ability of maintaining a classical spiral shape,’ she says. ‘These earrings are purposely deceptive: people will be surprised by how little they weigh, being convinced they are made of heavy, rigid and cold metal.’
Ferragamo worked with Orlandi in curating the exhibition. ‘I was honoured when Rossana asked me to showcase my work in her space,’ says Ferragamo. ‘It meant she appreciated my jewellery as small design organisms that can be worn on the body, and noticed these values and characteristics that I've always believed present in my work.’
The pieces will be on show at Rossana Orlandi’s Summer Gallery on the Promenade du Port, Porto Cervo, until the end of September 2021.
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