Atelier Verdi

Swedish-Italian creative director Gabriella Verdi founded her eponymous brand in the U.K. after a 30-year career in the fashion industry that exposed her to a variety of cultures and styles. Although she was born in Sweden, she has lived and worked throughout Europe and Asia, designing and producing new collections for some of the world's best-known fashion houses, and this experience of traveling and living abroad serves as a backdrop for the brand. Her first collection included a selection of lightweight cosmetic bags, which was a natural starting point for Gabriella, as she has always had to compromise on form and function to carry her beauty essentials when traveling. Gabriella drew inspiration from her mother, who lived in Italy and regularly bought dresses, hats, knitwear, and shoes made to order by local artisans. Her mother says that these dresses were made with so much love and affection that they have withstood the test of time and she still owns some of these pieces today. With her brand, Atelier Verdi, Gabriella wanted to follow the same slow fashion, making pieces to order, using traditional methods, and keeping the craftsmanship alive. This production concept is at the heart of Atelier Verdi's ethos. It avoids overproduction by sourcing only the leather and materials needed for each order, minimizing waste, and eliminating the need for warehouses. Atelier Verdi's collections are handmade in boutique workshops in Tuscany, while the leather is sourced from a nearby world-renowned tannery and is exclusively a byproduct of food production. The bespoke hardware is gold-plated brass. After her first leather goods collection, she has now launched a capsule collection of cashmere clothing. The carefully assembled collection is made from hand-selected, 100% organic cashmere from Inner Mongolia, whose yarn is treated, spun, dyed, and knitted in Italy.