Laura de Cesare

Weaver

©Laura De Cesare

©Stefano Lupi

©Laura De Cesare

©Stefano Lupi

Like playing music on the loom

To Laura, weaving is like composing music
She loves ancient, intricate textures and three-dimensional fabrics
She chose to become a weaver in a spur-of-the-moment decision

Laura De Cesare’s hand woven textiles mirror her personality and professional path. A daughter of the arts, former journalist and music enthusiast, her creations are as refined as her cultural background, as labyrinthine as the road she took to become the artisan she is nowadays. Laura is a master weaver who produces both her own collections and customised fabrics for design and fashion houses. Born in Milan, she moved to Pisa to study teaching, but she was not happy with her choice. One day, she looked out onto the river Arno, whose colours made her think of fabrics, and in a split second, she decided she would learn to weave. “I had never seen a loom up close,” she admits. But Laura's intuition proved right. Thanks to an apprenticeship in Graziella Guidotti’s workshop, a whole world opened up for her. Talent, passion and tireless research did the rest.

Interview

©Stefano Lupi

©Laura De Cesare

What fascinates you most about weaving?: The three-dimensional, sculptural potential of the fabric. I like knotting threads on the loom, creating intricate structures in order to turn an idea into a project, and finally into an object. Colours are not key to my work; marble sculptures are just white, if you think about it.
Which are your favourite techniques?: I love ancient, intriguing techniques. That is why I do a lot of historical research. One of my favourite weaves is Diamantina, consisting of a small diamond pattern done with six different warp threads movements. It looks simple, but it is in fact very complex.
What materials do you prefer to work with?: Mostly, classic yarns. I often use Garfagnina wool, the local wool of Garfagnana, which is thick and versatile. Depending on the project, I may use cotton or linen, in particular for perforated fabrics, or beautiful, expensive silk.
If you had to compare weaving to another art, what would it be?: It would be music, because both of them are codes that you can use to compose whatever you want. Weaving is also similar to architecture. Creating fabrics on the loom is like building an Eiffel Tower made of yarns. It is a wonderful craft that does good to the soul. That is why it means so much to me to teach and pass it on to other people.

Laura de Cesare is a master artisan: she began her career in 2007 and she started teaching in 2007