Elena Sueri

NINA ATELIER

Weaver

©Erica Sacchetti

©Mattia Medici

From costume design to weaving

Elena is not only a tailor but also an expert weaver
She creates most of her garments from zero, spinning fibres into yarns
She used to work as a costume designer for theatre

Elena Sueri’s workshop is a converted mill full of fascinating machinery, including two manual horizontal looms, a tapestry loom, a spinning wheel and a few drop spindles. Some people think all these machines are here just for show, but they are not. Elena is not only a tailor but a weaver, too. She creates most of her garments and accessories from the very beginning, which entails hand spinning wool, silk, cotton and other fibres into yarns. For this reason, it takes her a long time to manufacture her beautiful pieces, that are all one-of-a-kind and unrepeatable. Some of them are bespoke, designed and handmade from scratch according to a customer’s requests. Others are her own designs, but they can always be modified and customised.

Interview

©Mattia Medici

©Erica Sacchetti

What’s your training and educational background?: I got a degree in set design at the Fine Arts Academy of Bologna, then studied costume design for two years at Verona Opera Academy and specialised in historical textiles in Florence. Before launching Nina Atelier in 2020, I spent years working in theatre, behind the scenes.
How is your craft linked to costume design?: On stage, costumes tell a story, helping characters to express themselves. In life, it should be the same. That’s why I spend a lot of time talking to my clients and getting to know them. The dream dress is not the most fashionable, but the one that makes you feel at your best.
How would you define the style of your clothes?: I would say minimal and timeless, disconnected from trends and fashions. I like simple shapes, with a bit of a retro touch, and I love white. Only my scarves and shawls are extremely colourful. As a general rule, I’d never make a dress that I wouldn’t wear myself.
What is the most difficult part of your profession: Educating people, teaching them patience. It may take a whole year to make a ceremonial dress, a wedding gown or a suit from scratch. Weaving is the longest part, but a bespoke piece needs three or four fittings before finishing. It can be tiring, but it’s always worth it.

Elena Sueri is a master artisan: she began her career in 2015 and she started teaching in 2018