During times of hardship during the war-stricken early 20th century, renowned Italian shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo created his weaves using discarded chocolate wrappers. This anecdote and Salvatore’s aptitude for resourcefulness is where his granddaughter Maria Sole Ferragamo gained inspiration for her latest collection in collaboration with Elisabetta Cipriani, a pioneer in convincing artists to expand their work and play with the medium of jewels.

Renowned for collaborating with sculptors and painters worldwide to create exclusive wearable sculptures, Elisabetta has worked with creatives including Ai Weiwei, Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Giorgio Vigna. So it’s interesting to see her now working with a “traditional” jeweller such as Maria Sole, yet we’d argue that Maria Sole’s approach is anything but traditional. The creative, who founded SO-LE STUDIO in 2017, sets out to salvage and transform leftover materials into unique jewellery and wearable sculptures, continuing her grandfather's legacy of expert craft and beautifully made objects designed to be passed on through generations.


The latest collection, titled, "Trame (Weaves, Plots)" is a testament to her creativity, approach to sustainability, and the reimagining of waste materials' potential. Known for her background in architecture and craftsmanship, Maria Sole has taken discarded brass shavings, a by-product in the brass manufacturing process, and painstakingly transformed them into one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery.

The collection consists of four sculptural pieces: a brooch, a necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings. Each piece is unique and available in two variants: a gilded finish or a combination of gold plating with contrasting black or white enamel detailing.


"As I meticulously wove each piece by hand, I embraced the value of time and craftsmanship. This collection represents a harmonious blend of ancient aesthetics and forward-looking vision," Maria Sole told Because.

The collection will be on display during PAD London this week at the Elisabetta Cipriani shop on 23 Heddon Street, W1B 4BQ, London.

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