Roberta Di Camerino Venice - Grace Kelly Vintage Handbag

The fashion house Roberta di Camerino was founded in 1945 when the Camerinos returned to Italy, Venice her birthplace.

In 1945 she founded the historical Italian brand (a play of words between the title of the movie Roberta, 1935, starring Fred Astaire and Irene Dunne and the designer’s last name after marriage) in Venice.

Roberta Di Camerino Venice Made in Italy leather bagRoberta Di Camerino Venice Made in Italy leather bag Roberta Di Camerino

Her iconic bags can be easily found at Lucca vintage markets.

Roberta De Camerino vintage venice bags (2)

Since then her handbags have been on the front line of the fashion world.

Roberta di Camerino’s bags turned out to be a revolutionary. They were completely different from anything that had been made up until then.

I have one that looks very similar but it may be a replica. Her bags were copied using the same material.

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Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua For Velvet

Made of a special type of velvet (a distinctive fabric for bags) woven on antique looms in the dark (to preserve the preciousness of the fabric), in newly decoded beautiful, rich colours, with clasps. She worked with famous fabric makers, Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua for Velvet here in Venice.

This chair is old leather used to like her handbags.

This was the velvet used from this atelier at the time.

Ornaments Of Gondolas

Imagine holding parts of a Gondola on your arm? The studs created by the craftsmen of brass ornaments for gondolas. Was commissioned by her to use the same hardware. They feel sturdy, heavy and look wonderful. This is what made, Giuliana’s bags revolutionary. Their uniqueness evokes history, characters and emotions, just as the city where the atelier of the brand, supplying her velvet still operates called, Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua.

Roberta Di Camerino Gondola clutch bags venice vintage

Interwoven Lace Leather

Camerino won a Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1956 in recognition of the success and influence of her handbags. The clutch bag that I own is leather lace interwoven using looms. The overall state of the bag is very vintage. The leather lacing is wonderful to see. The outer gold metal, the clasp is now rusty. That is why I know it’s original and gives me a feeling of nostalgia knowing she created this IT bag of the past.

Roberta Di Camerino Gondola clutch bags venice vintage interwoven leather lace

The leather interior is exactly like the interiors of the Gondola’s themselves here in Venice. The gold Gondola metal inside is stunning and bright.

When you own a Roberta Di Camerino bag. You are literally taking a part of Venice’s Made In Italy artisans with you.

Roberta Di Camerino Gondola clutch bags venice vintage interwoven leather lace

Roberta di Camerino History

Roberta di Camerino’s story begins with Giuliana Coen, founder of the brand. The name originated from a combination of the name Roberta, taken from her favourite song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and Camerino, her husband’s last name.

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Who Wore Her Bags?

Roberta di Camerino’s bags have played a leading role in the fashion world for the past fifty years. The bags themselves evoke many stories and emotions. Photographed on Grace Kelly’s arm in 1956, the legendary Bagonghi bag has travelled the world with her.

arm in 1956, the legendary Bagonghi bag

Other devoted fashionistas included Princess Paola of Liège, Liz Taylor, Gina Lollobrigida, Isabella Rossellini and Farrah Fawcett.

The Caravel bag was worn more than once on Madonna’s arm.

Madame Giuliana Camerino Awards

Madame Giuliana Camerino, collected many awards, prizes for creating some of the most beautiful handbags in the world. In 1956 she received the prestigious Neiman Marcus “Oscar of Fashion” award. In the 1960s, she was invited by Giambattista Giorgini to present her iconic trompe l’oeil effect pret-à-porter collections at Pitti’s Sala Bianca.

Thanks to the Compasso D’Oro Prize in 1979, she achieved the status of designers who know how to radically change the quality of objects.

Palazzo Loredan Grifalconi Tour

Here in Venice atelier opened by Roberta di Camerino is situated in the historical Palazzo Loredan Grifalconi, Calle della Testa, in the Castello “sestriere” or district. Originally the site of the Fondaco dei Curami during the periodo of the Venetian Republic ( the leather tanning district, a particularly fitting location considering the importance of leather in Roberta di Camerino’s designs)

In the early 1950s Roberta di Camerino’s first bag production workshop was located here.

Piazza San Marco Venice

The new Roberta di Camerino atelier in Palazzo Loredan Grifalconi provides an ideal showcase for the latest collections offered by this “Made in Italy” brand. It will also provide a home for some of Roberta di Camerino’s finest historical designs, highly evocative outfits which now return to contemporary wardrobes as haute couture pieces commissioned in limited numbers.

Roberta Di Camerino Gondola clutch bags venice vintage interwoven leather lace

The Palazzo Loredan Grifalconi atelier, decorated with fine furniture, fourteenth-century commodes and the famous collection of antique horses ( a favourite of the designer and the inspiration behind some of her most successful creations) presents the latest models in Roberta di Camerino’s current collections of celebrated bags.

Gondola Style venice 2021 Italy Gracie Opulanza Venezia (7)

The Most Copied Bag In The World

Referred to by the press as “the most copied in the world!”, cloche, knitwear, preat-à- porter, leather goods, scarves and accessories, but primarily provides a home for the showroom – a sort of fashion “art gallery”- in which some of the designer’s most famous “historical pieces” are exhibited.

Giuliana Camerino is one of the designers who changed accessory fashion, transforming an accessory into a bag garment that can last forever.

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