I have always had a passion for handmade accessories. Since I was a child, if I didn't like something or couldn't find it, I was creating it! I was cutting pieces of jeans, I was assembling fabrics, I put together colors and materials, a bit like I still do today. It was always a creative game, a way to express myself through what I wore.
At a certain point, however, I felt that the world of jewelry, from which I had started, was no longer enough for me. I felt the need to bring fabric into my life, especially because I couldn't find anything that I really liked. I wanted a fashion that was mine, that respected my body, my height, my shapes. So I started to create for myself, but then people around me started to notice and appreciate my creations. It was at that moment that I realized I could do something for others too.
There research of the fabrics has become a fundamental part of my work. Every time I enter a market, a fabric shop or an upholstery shop, my eyes immediately begin to imagine new pieces. In Italy there are wonderful fabrics, but often with very high prices and difficult to combine. On the other hand, good quality ethnic fabrics offer more versatility and allow for surprising combinations. Mixing materials from different origins gives life to unique creations, with a special character.
My creations are, first of all, fun!
I love playing with velvets, brocades, colored silks and trimmings. The velvet, in particular, fascinates me: it changes shade depending on how you look at it, just like the moving sea, and I love the sea deeply. Naturally, to make my pieces I rely on very good seamstresses, because the manufacturing must be impeccable.
My job is more of artistic expression than of simple craftsmanship, although I don't want to seem presumptuous. Every piece tells a story, brings with it a journey, a search. This is what makes my creations special: the careful choice of materials, the courage to mix styles and cultures, the uniqueness of each accessory. Every time I create something, I know I will never be able to make it exactly the same: one fabric comes from Türkiye, another from Morocco, another from India… reproducing it would be impossible.
The greatest satisfaction is seeing people surprised by one of my pieces. One of the most beautiful things they said to me was: “I didn’t think I could wear something like this.” But the greatest emotion I experienced was when a client, who was not in good health, came into my atelier in tears… and came out with a smile. In that moment I understood that for me, creating means living.
Angela Randazzo
