MILAN–We’ve been curious about meeting Sveva Camurati, the designer behind Sveva Collection, since spotting her modernista designs dangling from the necks of some of Milan’s most daring divas. Couture chokers and necklaces made out of crystals, intricate hand made embroidery, as well as outrageous materials that include folded fans of PVC, flashing led lights, rock climbing rope and plastic fishing bait…

Let’s be honest… only a real Milanese with fashion pumping through her veins, can take gummy, jelly, hardware-store-bought bait and resurrect it into something couture worthy.

Indeed, Sveva’s first encounter with the fashion world occurred in her grandmother’s atelier. After a pursuing acting and interior design in New York City, she returned home and eventually started her brand Sveva Collection.

“I didn’t need a fashion degree. I just learned by DOING things,” the mother of two told BACO, in her studio that is a jaw-dropping shrine of craftsmanship, creativity and just the right dose of excess.  Many of her pieces are held together with chains and filigree and hundreds of set stones and beads, requiring unlimited patience and mechanical know-how.

“I spend a lot of time at the hardware store. I love the hardware store,” Sveva said, noting that she makes all of the prototypes – working out the engineering from A to Z – most of the time by herself.  Folk, sci-fi, pop, dadaism are all artistic influences that have driven her own path as an artist and designer.

Her brand really took off, she explained, about two years ago, after upmarket labels like Marni and Lanvin  paved the way for statement jewellery. Now Sveva’s pieces are sold in upscale shops worldwide like Biffi and Banner Boutique in Milan, Kisan Soho in New York, as well as top e-commerce sites like Polyvore and Farfetch. Unlike other artisanal Italian brands, Sveva’s fashion-forward runway appeal has garnered her attention worldwide, especially in Japan and South Korea, two of her top international markets.

“The women who wear my designs are not scared to be daring. She likes to dream,” she said.

The Sveva Collection spring summer collection for next year is filled with potential icons — elaborate pieces with a regal quality, fashioned with elaborate embroidery made by artisans in Puglia and inspired by empires and historic muses like the Byzantine Empire and Pauline Bonaparte.

“My pieces are truly made with love. That I can say without any doubt,” Sveva said, as she turned our attention to the ultimate conversation piece: “Rehab” is crafted with chains, multicolored beads and plastic pills dangling from the golden fringe. Sophisticated and witty… a lot like Sveva.

“A necklace is very personal because you wear it near your face. You can be having a bad day, but a necklace can counter-balance that and give you light.”

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: The Magical World of Sveva, Gabrial Forever Glam: Rocker’s Armor, Pugnetti Parma’s Lift BAG, Lucas de Stael: Made in Paris Eyewear, Serapian: Behind the Doors of a Hollywood Fave , Accessories: Editor’s Picks

PARMA–Silvana Venturini is an archaeologist who decided that her passion would become a job. Or a sort of. Her interest for antiques, objects and bijoux, began long time ago, but now finding and selling vintage accessories is her main activity. “I do a lot of research, I travel through the United States to places that I know and some random ones. I often travel and live in the States. I’m specialized on American vintage pieces.”

BACO: How did you decide to become an antique reseller?

SV: “I was an archaeologist, and I decided to take a different path in order to do what I really wanted. It’s only been ten years that I have been doing this job and it all started because I am a collector”.

BACO: How do you find your items?

SV: “I do research by myself and usually by through my own antiques and vintage colleagues.”

BACO: You don’t have a shop. Where people can find your stuff?

SV: “I always participate at the most important fairs of the field. In Italy at Mercanteinfiera, Belgioioso and Leopolda. This summer I’ll go in Spain, and I’ll open a temporary store, probably in Valencia.”

BACO: How do you choose your pieces?

SV: “It’s important that the piece is unique. For example, I have a Veruschka chain/belt made to measures for her o these bags in lucite, an American material that was used by Marylin Monroe for her bags too. I have some rare Schiapparelli hats of her American period.”

BACO: How about bijoux?

SV: “I carry all the big vintage brands from Trifari to Miriam Haskhell, from Har to Kenneth Jay Lane, who I know personally. Fashion houses come to us to take pictures and gather inspiration. I often see people from Scervino and Valentino.”

BACO: Jay Lane made some pieces that Onassis gave to Jackie. Do you have any?

SV: “I have a copy of the star-shaped pin that KennetH made for Jackie. He made things for a woman who wants to feel like a princess and also likes to wear things that were owned by someone important.”

WHAT: American vintage bijoux and accessories

HEADQUARTERS: Genova

PRICE RANGE: from 15 to 3.000 euros

WHERE TO BUY: silvent75@yahoo.it

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: BACO Style: Uberta Zambeletti of Wait and See, Cavalli e Nastri: Masterpiece Vintage, Romain Brau’s Enchanting Vintage, Silvana Venturini’s American Dream, Angelo Caroli: Signor Vintage, Paolo Crescimbeni: The Culture of Travel, Artisanal Luster of Vintage