In these sensitive times in history, it is very important to do one's part and try to revalue, reuse and recycle a textile before buying something new. Especially now that we know that the textile industry and fast fashion is not the best friend of the environment. It is therefore not just a trend, but a real necessity that allows us to reduce the environmental impact of the clothes we wear, but also and above all to breathe new life into a fabric of excellent quality, which may have been locked away in a trunk for several years. This is particularly true for hemp fabric, as its natural fibre is very resistant to wear and tear, but also to mould and bacteria.

The search for hemp fabric today takes me to Abruzzo, where LetteraD with its imagination and creativity gives new life to forgotten fabrics. I had the honour of having a chat with them and here are the highlights.

HSM: Dear Donatella and Pauline, how did the LetteraD project start?

D: Letter D was born during the lockdown, I took advantage of the time it gave me to devote myself to a dream I had had for years. I was thus able to update work that was done with meticulousness, patience and wisdom in the past, a time far removed from us due to the rapid change in society, and present it in a modern (almost ironic) key, readapting the use of noble (i.e. natural) fabrics for today's times.

Some fabrics are simply too beautiful to remain in a drawer. They have a soul, a story to tell and as such should be revalued.

With Lettera D, I rework natural fabrics, doing careful research to find them, and focusing on hemp fabric (100% pure) for its valuable properties. These fabrics give rise to innovative shopping bags, which can also be used as containers, towels, household linen, but also smaller items such as sachets, bags and placemats.

Working with these old fabrics always reminds me how important work and patience are, but also how our lifestyle today has changed. Today, it has become very easy and intuitive to buy something new rather than revalue an existing fabric. Furthermore, I work a lot with hemp fabric, which is a real challenge for me, also a personal one, because it is still a little-known fabric. As mentioned before, hemp is a very durable fibre and becomes softer with use; it is breathable and anti-mould, it is also ideal for sensitive skin and therefore also for children's skin, as it does not contain any toxic substances (read more here).

Working with these natural fabrics requires a very different approach than working with today's fabrics and synthetics.

The fabrics most commonly used are hemp, linen and wool.

HSM: LetteraD gives new life to textiles that might otherwise be forgotten. How do you find materials?

Q: I started by studying a few things I found in my grandmother's trunk and from there I started a thorough search, through a network of acquaintances, for totally natural and never used materials.

I also often participate in sector-specific fairs or recover fabrics through small companies. The creative process is very interesting, because the fabrics I recover have a historical value, which I have to maintain or supplement in some way in the reworking.

My ultimate goal is therefore always to give new life to valuable handicrafts that would otherwise fall into disuse or be totally lost.

HSM: How does the creative process take place?

HSM: Is it a creative process of upcycling, i.e. giving a new life to a forgotten fabric?

Q: It is certainly a job that requires a lot of patience and also the ability to change a starting idea, especially for hemp fabric, which is very different from modern fabrics and therefore requires long and careful preparation. I therefore have to adapt my work a bit to the fabric as well as to the weave and embroidery of it.

The new life that is given to the fabric through my sewing is often accompanied by a different and perhaps innovative use of a classic product. One example is the large hemp bags that can be used as real containers perhaps to hang on the wall in the children's room.

I therefore like to give new life to a forgotten fabric as well as an innovative way of using it.

Finally, I believe that good things have to start from the bottom, from small realities, trying to bring hemp fabric back to life. Italy was the second largest producer of hemp fabric for several decades and hopefully there will be a return of interest in restoring the lost supply chain.

HSM: How are the activities between you, Donatella and Paolina different?

Q: I take care of what I said before, i.e. finding materials, studying them and the creative process to rework them. I have a workshop at home.

Paulina, on the other hand, is an art director who follows my creativity and tries to give meaning to my creations through photographs. Paulina also follows all the visual side, so website and social media, and helps me give my brand identity.

Our objective? To spread the knowledge of these materials and their eco-sustainability, especially at a time in history when special attention must be paid to safeguarding the planet.

HSM: For people who are passionate about handicraft products and would like to buy a new product but with a history behind it, where can they find you?

As a first sales channel we rely on our e-commerce website but also on social media, such as our Instagram profile.

For the physical side, however, we have an exhibition at Paulina's creative studio in the centre of Pescara (Studio PiBi). However, as this is a very niche sector, we prefer to use online channels for now. Then, as soon as it is possible, we plan to participate in dedicated trade fairs.

HSM: Thank you very much Donatella and Paolina for letting me discover this side of hemp textile and the possibility of reusing it and giving it a new life.

Q: Thank you for your commitment to disseminating via your site and social channels interesting topics that the public deserves to discover and explore.

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Photo:

courtesy of letteraD, copyright letteraD

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