7.10.09 Venice.

entrance to rubelli...

incredible sofa and sitting room in rubelli

Blessed day of getting to sleep in a little bit. We didn’t have to meet until 9 so it felt wonderful getting up at 8 o clock. We headed to Rubelli textiles, a fabric company in Venice right on the grand canal. One of the designers for Rubelli came and picked us up at our hotel and boy was she suave. She was so stylin and bueatiful. We walked a good distance to their showroom which is why the people here are so skinny cuz they walk EVERYWHERE and I am a huge fan of that. The studio/showroom is in a 14th century palace that was owned by a very wealthy from Venice and the study in the palace was the CEO of Rubelli’s office until 5 years ago when they moved to a bigger building since they are such a growing company. The building is absolutely gorgeous though and the interior is decorated to the tee. The sitting room when you walk in has the most gorgeous sofa I have ever seen in my entire life. Apparently it is the same sofa that they designed and used in Ralph Lauren’s penthouse in New York…so it’s that pretty. It is a silver mohair sectional and incredible. The woman who picked us up is the one who takes care of all the textiles and archives from their museum of fabrics. The company began in the 1800’s and they still have remnants of many of the original fabrics of the first production and we were able to see the ones that were out on display. They have a collection of fabrics today that are totally dedicated to recreating those fabrics or they take inspiration from the more traditional fabrics from the beginning of their company. They even have an original corset and little child’s outfit from back in the day that was so cute and amazing looking because it was made out of the same fabric they used to upholster furniture. There was a change in the look of fabric because they began to make the patterns smaller so that they would fit on to clothing and look better. Before like I said, they had been using the same fabric for clothing as furniture but they realized that you were losing a lot of the patterns on the clothing because they were so big. So they made the patterns smaller and she showed us a few swatches of those first original textiles. We then had free rein to roam the showroom and look at all their different collections including their modern collection we have in the states called Donghia. I wish I could explain in words how so happy I was to be there and be surrounded by nothing but sheer beauty. Every fabric was so elegant and I loved the different collections. They have a collection that is inspired simply from Venice alone so the patterns represent like the rod iron works that are all over Venice and other well known patterns that are common to this area. Another collection celebrates the traditional patters that were the ones that started Rubelli and a few other collections as well. We had a hay day just wondering the amazing area of the palace where they house the fabrics and the view from their balcony was insane. They are right on the grand canal and the view is mind blowing. The ladies were so adorable who worked there and one of them, Elizabeth, was super cute. I was telling her how beautiful all the fabrics were and how much I loved being there and then she stopped me and said, “No. You know what is beautiful? This,” as she pointed to my dress pattern. She told me that when I walked in the door she got so excited and wanted to talk to me because she loved my dress so much. I knew I’d like her cuz we had the same taste. She had on beautiful Burberry glasses so we chatted up style for a bit. I got a picture with her so check that out. They had fabric samples that you could buy so you better believe I snatched up some of that since their fabric is only available in Venice. I left there completely and totally happy and never wanted to leave really. I would give anything to intern there and work with those darling women and get an the most remarkable experience of my life. Who knows, maybe I’ll do it. ☺

one of many beautiful patterns in the rubelli collection

elizabeth and I...she is a most wonderful woman and check out her sweet glasses

the 5 amigos in beautiful rubelli

As we were leaving Rubelli, we had free time before our next appointment with our next designer. Walking along, we happened upon the most wonderful little square with the cutest door I’ve ever seen. Naturally, we had to take advantage of this prime photo op so we proceeded to spend almost an hour just snapping great photos in the door. It was so much fun and one of my many fondest memories of the trip thus far. We headed back to the hotel and me and Ashlee crashed on our bed so beat from our day already. We got a phone call from Brady who lives in the annex as we lovingly call it a little ways away from our room. He told us to turn the channel on the tv, which was currently on Clueless in Italian of course, to channel 14. He said we would enjoy it very much. We turn it there to find a greasy Italian contortionist man with a creepy stash in his boxers doing strange flexible things with his body. It was seriously so disturbing but Ashlee and I were rolling on the bed laughing so hard. He finished his little routine and bowed and then all of a sudden just flung his leg out front and then back and somehow had it completely twisted around his head and walked off stage. I was seriously dying from laughter. Only in Italy could you find that man, that’s for sure.

model shot...classic. we should model or something

coolest door. coolest ladies.

we loved that door if you can't tell

We met up to go to our next designer and had to take a vaparetto aka water taxi to get there. It was quite the journey to say the least but we made it. On our way there, we were walking near the water and one girl, Josie, was walking along and wanted to just step down to feel the water. Somehow, we don’t know how, but she stepped on the step going down to the water and it was covered in moss and very slick. Next thing we know, she has gone down flat on her back and butt and her camera which was around her wrist slipped off, flew in the air, and landed in the water. It sat on the surface for a moment and before we knew it, it had sunk to a point we couldn’t see it. My first reaction was to dive in there and grab that thing before we lost it but it was too late. I wanted to cry for her. I can’t imagine having that happen especially since we aren’t even half over with the trip. She got right up and said she was totally fine and didn’t care at all cuz it happened and there was nothing we could do. Then reality hit and she was pretty sad. I shed a tear for her cuz I just thought it was so sad.

We made it to Fortuny, our 2nd textile design place and greeted by a very pretty middle aged Venetian man who works for Fortuny. They were so sweet when we walked in because they said they had something to refresh us. The refresher was little shot glasses of coke and potato chips. It was very kind of them. Their showroom was much different from Rubelli because they are a factory and less of a showroom I would say. The unique thing about Fortuny is that all of their fabrics are printed. Now he wouldn’t divulge their secret printing ways to us so I have no idea how the printing process actually works but I’m mesmerized by their fabrics. It is so weird because you look at one of the patterns from a distance and it looks like it is hand woven and has depth until you step closer and touch it and it is totally flat. It is quite strange but strangely beautiful. They use real silver and gold powders in some of their designs giving them a most wonderful sheen and glimmer. They had some beautiful patterns and are all very close to the original designs from Mr. Fortuny himself from back in the day. Most of their patterns have a lovely border that makes their designs distinct and unique and also make for a really cool look when upholstered on a sofa or chair. The price for one meter of fabric 360 euro, so VERY expensive. Every bolt of fabric is different from the other because of their secret practice so there is a sense of uniqueness and original quality to their work that makes it so sought after. After looking at the fabric, the man helping us took us back to the gardens of their store. The factory they use to make the fabric that has been there since the 1900’s when the company began is back there as well as beautiful gardens. They have a pool and lovely cabana for clients to use when they come to pick out fabrics since “it can be a long process” according to the Fortuny man. It was an amazing experience to hear how fabrics got their start for these two companies and that they are still honoring their roots today. It gives them history and a story, which is priceless in my opinion.

fabrics at fortuny...they were so exquisite.

We left there and made our way back to our hotel after getting lost just for a little bit. On our way back, Brady, Ashlee, and I stopped at this huge market to get some dinner and got fresh fruit, fresh cheese and a wheel of bread oh and some nutella. We mustn’t forget the nutelli as we call it. It is essential to every meal. It was super cheap and SO delicious! I love eating fresh anything especially from Venice when everything just tastes better. All in all it was a wonderful day in Venice as always. I cannot get enough of this place and would give anything to stay here for the rest of the trip, but since we aren’t, I am enjoying every single minute before it all passes and is over. Grazie Venice for being so magnificent! Ciao!

our meal...so cheap. so delicious.