Patrizia Ginesi & Maria Giovanna Varagona
Weaving history into modern life
- Maria Giovanna and Patrizia preserve traditional weaving techniques
- They create contemporary patterns inspired by medieval motifs
- Their mission is to revive the ornamental role of textiles in households
Since 1986, Maria Giovanna Varagona and Patrizia Ginesi have celebrated the rich textile heritage of the Marche at their workshop-museum, La Tela. Employing exclusively original 19th-century looms, they specialise in the ancient liccetti technique, which is preserved by a select group of skilled weavers in the area. The intricate motifs that adorn their handcrafted textiles feature dragons, lions, eagles, griffins and peacocks. These reflect the distinctive iconography that was popular in central Italy during the 13th and 14th centuries. Maria Giovanna and Patrizia also created two in-house museum areas, officially recognised by the Marche Region, at the service of the population and of students in particular. La Tela works alongside a cultural initiative called From Fiber to Yarn and features a special display area dedicated to liccetti weaving.
Interview
- How did you first discover weaving?
- Maria Giovanna: Quite by chance! I had trained to become a social worker, and decided to take a course in weaving organised by a cooperative assisting at-risk youth. I ended up falling in love with the loom and, shortly after, founded La Tela with Patrizia.
- What techniques do you specialise in?
- Patrizia: We use hand-weaving for table linens, tapestries and carpets. We employ mixed techniques, including macramé and filet knotting, to craft clothing and fashion accessories. Additionally, we specialise in embroidery on canvas.
- Can you share a memorable episode in your career?
- Patrizia: One of the most unforgettable experiences was being invited to train and assist Juliette Binoche on the set of Uberto Pasolini’s film The Return, in which she plays Penelope. It was a deeply rewarding and inspiring collaboration.
- Would you say that your craft risks disappearing?
- Maria Giovanna: The survival of unique, heritage-rich professions is at significant risk. In order to compete in today’s market, we need policies to protect and support traditional, fully manual artisanal crafts like ours.
Patrizia Ginesi & Maria Giovanna Varagona are master artisans: they began their career in 1986 and they started teaching in 1989
Where
Patrizia Ginesi & Maria Giovanna Varagona
