Angela Caputi

Giuggiù

Jewellery maker

©Angela Caputi

©Alessandro Bencini

Blending fashion with art

Angela is one of the pioneers of fashion jewellery in Italy
Her colours and shapes express joy and enthusiasm
She creates jewels for women, inspired by women

Angela Caputi has always been a pioneer. She opened her first atelier and bijouterie store in Florence in 1975, trying to reunite worlds which were traditionally very distant: the centuries-old world of Florentine craftsmanship and the excitement of fashion. In her craft, she experimented with innovative materials and revealed an exceptional sensitivity for the world of colour. But she is also one of the first examples of feminine entrepreneurship and all her collaborators are women. After many years – and after receiving international recognition for her work – the spirit of time and women are still her primary sources of inspiration, to create pieces that express enthusiasm and lust for life, creativity and freedom.

Interview

©Angela Caputi

©Angela Caputi

How did you start out creating your brand?: When I opened my first atelier in 1975, there was no such thing as feminine entrepreneurship in Italy. Craftsmanship was all about traditions, a world apart from fashion. I looked at what was happening in other parts of the world, found a female business partner, and it started from there.
What is your source of inspiration?: I am not really the kind who gets inspiration from walking along a beach collecting shells. The real world and everyday life have always been my playground. I love observing people – women in particular. I love creating pieces that are able to spark off a lust for life, joy and enthusiasm.
How do you get that sparkle?: Colours! Colours provoke enthusiasm and express the spirit of any time. Cinema is a great example. When in Italy everyone was into neorealism, I found my inspiration in classic Hollywood movies expressing lust for life, like Carmen Miranda.
Any suggestion for a young artisan?: It is a very challenging time for artisans. Now more than ever, you have to be brave, find your own path and avoid following volatile and boring trends imposed by the market. Pursue your objectives, believe in yourself and trust your own know-how and knowledge.

Angela Caputi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1975