Florence Study Trip 24th

January 31, 2018

Florence Study Trip 24th - 27th January

From the 24^th-27^th January 2018, a group of us from Textiles in Practice went to Florence, to visit the Pitti Filati textiles and knitwear trend show.

View across Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo.

It was a fantastic trip, which allowed us an insight into the professional textiles industry, as well as being able to absorb the culture and atmosphere of a creative, historical and beautiful city. Pitti Filati took place on the Friday of the trip, meaning we had Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Saturday morning completely free to wander round and explore Florence.

Ponte Vecchio.

Before arriving, I had been especially keen to visit the galleries and Museums for which Florence is world-renowned. Seeing Michelangelo’s Statue of David at the Galleria dell’Accademia was completely awe-inspiring. I have always loved sculpture and as I have drawn heavily on sculpture for inspiration in my current projects, being able to finally see it was particularly apt. Standing above us in the gallery, it was clear to see just why it is such a magnificent feat of not only sculpture but engineering. What I loved most about it was that although it was a statue of a man, it had a narrative, which could be appreciated just by looking at it. From the Biblical tale of David and Goliath upon which it was based, to the story of Michelangelo’s journey to create it, it was breath taking.

The Statue of David.

The Uffizi Gallery was equally as fantastic as the Accademia. Being able to see all the paintings in their true form, rather than in a book or on a screen was so inspiring. I love noticing all the small details you would never be able to pick up on from a reproduction. For example, when looking at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, I noticed some gold etching on the trees on the right hand side, which I had never noticed from studying the painting before, and this made the image even more vibrant and interesting than it had been before. Speaking of the Birth of Venus, I had been so excited to see it for real, and it did not disappoint. It was impossible not to be moved when stood in front of an artwork, which has inspired so much and is one of the most recognisable works of art in the world.

On the same day that we went to the art galleries, we also went to the Gucci Garden museum. I had not been aware of this before I arrived, but was so glad that I ended up going. It is something between a concept store and a museum, with a luxurious and decadent retail space downstairs, where you are invited to look around and take photos. Upstairs in the building is an exhibition, tracing many of the most iconic Gucci designs and accessories through history. It was one of the most opulent shops I have ever visited, and so full of inspirational design. Although many of the clothes and accessories are a lot more patterned and busy for my taste, it is impossible not to be excited and impressed by the attention to detail, care, and quality finish of every piece.

Pictures from the Gucci Gardens Museum and store.

On the Friday, we went to the Pitti Filati trade show, the main reason for the visit. It was primarily for businesses to display and sell their work, so being a student, I felt a little out of place and apprehensive about looking closely at many of the textiles. However, as it wasn’t a huge show, there was time to walk around more than once and get a good feel for what was there. As well as the more professional stands, there were also some more interactive areas, and some interesting displays around some of the booths, like big pieces of woodcut into curved shapes and layered, which really inspired me for my own projects. Although it seemed quite business oriented, I quite liked this as it gave a great insight into the reality of working in textiles as a career. I also loved that we were able to see some examples of future textiles, which may become more commonplace. Sustainability was a key theme for many of the designs, and I got a sense that the importance of artisan, bespoke and handmade textiles are still very important, even in a commercial industry.

Photos from Pitti Filate.

Attached to the trade show was a vintage fair which I went to as well. It was really enjoyable to rummage through vintage clothes and fabrics, despite most of them still being extremely expensive!

Vintage fair.

Of course, as well as the galleries and trade shows, we enjoyed lots of great Italian food, and made sure to climb to the top of Giotto’s Campanile in the Piazza del Duomo. The view from the top was unbelievable, and totally worth the nerve-wracking experience of climbing the stairs!

View from the top of the Campanile.

One of my highlights from the trip was a visit to the Mercato Central, where on the ground level you could walk around the traditional food sellers stalls, and upstairs you could sit and enjoy food and drink. The atmosphere here was great and made for a relaxing but bustling and lively lunch stop.

We also went to the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, a 600 year old pharmacy which uses ancient recipes to create perfume and skin care products. The building which is reminiscent of a place, is full of 18^th century furniture and ornaments, giving it an extremely luxurious atmosphere. Like the Gucci Gardens store and museum, you could wander round and take in the surroundings without buying any of the products. It felt like being in a time-machine, transported back to a time when only the utmost quality and decadence would do for those who could afford it. Biblical frescoes on the wall and ceilings of one of the rooms gave the building a sacred feel, as though it was preserving a moment in time, as well as the concoctions and unguents on sale.

Finally, on the last morning we went to a Salvatore Ferragamo exhibiton. Like the Gucci Gardens, this was part of the Slavatore ferragamo store, and traced the history of the iconic shoe designer from his journey to America in the 1920s to his position as one of the foremost shoe designers of the 20^th century. This was a perfect end to a brilliant mid-term trip, which provided inspiration, a change of scenery and enjoyment from start to finish. I would love to return to Florence soon.