The global pandemic has squashed any plans for an idyllic Italian summer vacation this year, but thanks to online lifestyle retailer YOOX, the Bel Paese can now come to you. Organized into four themes that embody the hallmarks of an Italian holiday, Ciao Italia! pays tribute to the country’s rich tradition of design and craftsmanship. The virtual gateway is curated with the types of handcrafted housewares and fashion items typical of Italy’s beloved small ateliers and boutiques—the ones you only hear about from a friend or stumble upon meandering down a cobblestone vicolo.
YOOX’s New Fashion and Design Edit Captures the Essence of the Italian Summer
The Ciao Italia! initiative showcases a selection of artisanal brands that evoke the country’s seasonal mood.
By Nate StoreyProduced for Yoox by Surface Studios July 28, 2020
Dolce far niente (the pleasure of relaxing) offers up a range of looks that channel the relaxed Amalfi Coast vibe. Al Mercato is an edit of artisanal goods and accessories—handsewn leather bags, flowy maxi dresses, locally made espadrilles—endemic to one of the country’s spirited street markets. Ferragosto showcases a selection of elegant Voodoo Jewels precious stone rings and Dunia Algeri crocheted swimwear fit for the highly anticipated festival that it’s named for.
Our favorite gallery of items, however, is Buon Appetito, inspired by the authentic trattorias found in every corner of the country, from the bucolic Tuscan countryside and the beaches of Puglia to Rome’s vibrant Trastevere locale.
Some standouts from this section include the hand-painted bowls from Bottega Vignoli—a ceramics brand helmed by two sisters in Faenza—that will brighten up a heap of cacio e pepe, and Giada Benincasa “ciao amore” statement tees. The colorful Lisa Corti table textiles and Murano glass candles and cups are enough to induce nostalgia for those inimitable Italian meals that always go late into the night.
YOOX’s transporting Ciao Italia! edit taps into the euphoric feeling of summer in the Mediterranean; the perfect reprieve until the world is able to visit again.