Hand-painted items
A meeting of art, tradition and innovation
Lara Marchi
Creations
Lara Marchi grew up in the print shop observing the art inherited from her ancestors. Under her father’s instruction, she later succeeded in contributing her own precise style and developing an individual technique: today she hand-paints antique fabric, creating products that are highly communicative and design-led.
Le creazioni
Lara Marchi
Lara Marchi è cresciuta nella bottega osservando l’arte tramandata dalla sua famiglia. Seguendo gli insegnamenti del padre è poi riuscita ad apportare un suo preciso stile creando una tecnica personale: oggi dipinge a mano su tessuti antichi, creando prodotti estremamente comunicativi e di design.
Lara Marchi
Lara Marchi is the daughter of Alfonso Marchi, and she grew up in the workshop surrounded by art and culture; continuing and innovating the teachings of her father, she now paints by hand on antique fabrics, creating genuine artworks that are unique and exclusive.
Creations
Geometric lines, proportions and colours skilfully combine to create one-off designs and unexpected colour schemes. A balanced mixture that conveys harmony and movement.
The fabrics
The fabrics used for the works of art are linen or hemp. They were hand-made by Romagna women using looms, a craft that disappeared decades ago.
These are hardwearing fabrics, designed to last over time and with their own history: in Romagna country homes, every family made their own fabrics on the loom. They are alive in some way, because they speak of lives lived, and continue to give us pleasure today.
Some of the antique fabrics skilfully decorated by Lara date back to the early 20th century.
The colours
The colours used are also created directly by Lara Marchi in her workshop, following the original 17th century recipe to make pigments that are indelible and resistant to repeated washing, including by machine.
The ingredients are natural substances which give bright, unique colours: the main ones are rust, blue, green and red.
During the pressing the colours are not as they will appear when fixed and dried; a little like working with terracotta, the artist combines colours by imagining how they will look.
The stages of the process
Each item takes several days to complete.
The stages of the process are as they were in 1633:
Washing
the fabric is washed and dried naturally.
Cutting
the fabric is cut manually to the size and shape of the item to be created.
Mangling
this stage uses the 1633 Mangano machine to iron, compact and press the fabric.
Preparing the colour
just as in the 17th century, the main colours are made by hand in the workshop, using natural ingredients, and then mixed to obtain different shades.
Hand painting
every item is painted by hand.
Drying the colour
after painting, the fabric is hung up to dry for several days.
Colour fixing
at this stage the colour must be fixed to ensure it is resistant to washing and will retain its brightness over time.
Ironing with the mangle
this is the second stage of ironing the fabric before proceeding to assemble the product.
Assembly and Sewing
at this stage the painted fabrics are put together and sewn by hand to complete the item.
Final ironing with the mangle
after the final ironing, the item is ready for use.
Hand made
Every product is born of Lara Marchi’s creativity and the spontaneity with which the fabric absorbs colour; every stage of production is by hand, meaning that every item is unique and any detail that might appear as a flaw is in face a distinctive mark of a master craftsman at work.
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Eco sustainability
The entire production process is carried out as it was in 1633; energy use is minimised, and therefore the Lara Marchi creations, like all Stamperia Marchi products, are low-impact and sustainable.
