Fine filigrees, precious fabrics and refined ornaments embody the timeless charm and elegance of the Sardinian culture and craftsmanship

“A magical island, a revealed beauty”, Sardinia with its rich artistic and cultural heritage has recently been the core of a rich week dedicated to the presentation of high fashion, tailor’s design and jewelry collections by the prestigious Italian maison Dolce & Gabbana.

Crystalline beaches embraced by uncontaminated nature that seems to be coming out of some glossy magazines, exclusive locations coexisting with small villages where life still flows slowly, giving vibes from an era now long disappeared, and an artistic and cultural heritage with very deep roots that still revive today: Sardinia is an island that never ceases to amaze and fascinate, which generously offers its gifts to those who wish to explore this land with open mind, curiosity and love.

And so, over time, the ancient Island of Ichnusa has been able to inspire the Italian and international high fashion and jewelry industry, becoming the protagonist of exceptional pieces, such as those that this summer paraded in the fantastic outside setting of Forte Village, an award-winning five-star resort nestled between the crystal clear sea and the wild nature of Santa Margherita di Pula right next to some of the most beautiful beaches in South Sardinia, a stop in the island on the Grand Tour d’Italia dell’Alta Moda by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, founders of the so famous fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, that has become a universal flagship for Made in Italy and the excellence of its craftsmanship worldwide. A project that since 2012 aims to enhance Italy’s artistic crafts and most iconic locations through unique pieces with a high symbolic, cultural and artistic value.

So, from June 29 to July 4, 2024 was a week dedicated to the celebration of the Sardinian culture and its tailoring and goldsmithing arts, with which it is inextricably intertwined. A clear link might be the bright and finely embroidered women’s clothes, passed down from mother to daughter for generations, especially worn in full grace and pride on the festival days that kicks off the plans for celebrations in honor of Sant’Efisio in Cagliari, an anniversary that for four centuries has celebrated this warrior martyr who, appearing in a vision to the Count of Lemos, freed Sardinia from the great Plague of the mid-seventeenth century.

Same goes for unique goldsmith pieces, such as the graceful Sardinian maninfide, given as a gift to future brides since ancient ages, subject of many old magical stories and legends (it seems that fairies wove this ring with gold threads for young lovers who wanted to ask their beloved to marry them, but only if they approved their union) but also a key element of the traditional costumes worn on many popular and religious events that take place in Sardinia.

All these are evidences of how every aspect of the Sardinian culture is permeated by art that always feeds on tradition, faith and popular identity, thus creating a true mosaic of artistic expressions that tell the story of the deepest and most authentic sides of the real soul of this wonderful and multifaceted land.

Precious fabrics, ancient jewels and finely embroidered clothing: the best of the Sardinian craftsmanship that fascinates and inspires

Sardinian fabric becomes a story made of colors, textures and symbols, a story which speaks of identity, pride and sense of belonging. Weaving is in fact one of the oldest and most deep-rooted arts here, with a very important historic background (the first testimony dates back to the Bronze Age), when women spun and wove their clothes at home, using natural materials such as wool, linen and cotton. A true art that has kept evolving and refining over time, without ever losing sight on its original meaning.

It is no coincidence that, even today, what truly amazes is the rich universe of meanings that lies behind the weave of these precious fabrics. Each motif, each decoration embroidered or printed has a particular meaning, often related to the natural world or everyday life, while the geometric designs, made with particular weaving techniques that differ from sub-region to sub-region here in Sardinia, such as the famous pibiones which consists of creating small raised knots on the fabric, characteristic of the central areas of the island (Barbagia, in particular), used above all to make carpets and blankets representing a symbol of protection, fertility or prosperity.

At the same time, Sardinian weaving is not just an art relating to the past, but continues to evolve and renew itself without ever losing sight on its thousands years history. It is not uncommon for Sardinian artists and designers to have the ambitious goal of reinterpreting these ancient motifs in a contemporary way, creating garments and accessories that blend the Sardinian cultural heritage with the latest trends in the world of high fashion, giving life to one of a kind pieces, which in short time have also conquered the international market, therefore bringing the charm and refinement of Sardinia to the whole world.

Same goes for Sardinian jewelry, forged with ancient artisan techniques, another iconic example of how the island’s craftsmanship tradition can combine beauty, refinement and deep meaning in small creations but with an immense personal and cultural value, which fascinate the eye and, at the same time, speak right to the soul.

Among these, the Sardinian wedding ring really stands out for its grace and delicacy, a ring that was traditionally exchanged as a pledge of love between spouses, characterized by an intricate jewelry craft work that recalls lace and filigree, a basic technique for many of the most famous Sardinian jewels consisting of intertwining very thin gold or silver threads to create complex yet delicate original designs, a true symbol of union and protection, and in a circular shape, which instead refers to the eternity of the marriage bond.

No less sophisticated are the so-called buttons, sphere-shaped earrings that can also be applied into a chain or used as an ornament for traditional clothes, made of gold or silver filigree, whose round shape symbolizes the fertility and continuity of life, relevant founding values in the Sardinian culture which highlight the importance of family and traditions; and the su coccu, an amulet with a black stone set between two silver cups that, according to tradition, would have the power of keeping the hex away from the wearer (the stone, indeed, would absorb the negative energy around).

The authentic link connecting craftsmanship of fabrics and jewels is the traditional Sardinian costume, including headdresses, wide skirts, jackets and shirts adorned with ribbons, lace and frills, unique and priceless works of art made with fine fabrics such as velvet, brocade and silk, then enriched with colorful decorations, precious embroidery and little details in gold or silver thread, which require hours of patient and careful work.

An effort fully rewarded when these costumes get worn, a great celebration for the historic Sardinian tailoring tradition and the vast cultural heritage of the specific area of origin – in fact, each piece has its own function and meaning varying from different parts of the island’s territory, even from one village to another within the same sub-region.

A legacy of the past, but also a source of pride of the present: here in Sardinia it’s not uncommon to see men and women dressed in traditional costumes, especially in the occasion of the numerous popular festivals and celebrations that enliven the island throughout the year, true living witnesses of an ancient artistic and cultural form of expression that continues to live and renew itself – and recently, the protagonist of the exclusive events Alta Moda 2024 by Dolce &Gabbana.

Sardinia, culture and high fashion: Dolce & Gabbana meets elegance and traditions

The meeting between Sardinian culture and traditions and the high fashion industry found its best expression in the event organized by the Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, which chose the ancient island of Ichnusa as the setting for the presentation of their high fashion, tailor’s design and jewelry 2024 collections, a project that for over ten years has been traveling, as in a kind of contemporary Grand Tour, between the dearest regions to the two Italian stylists and entrepreneurs, respectively Sicilian and Milanese, aiming to enhance and show the world the best of our local excellence, all within exceptional locations.

Thus, from June 29 to July 4, 2024, the gardens of Forte Village were the stage for a rich calendar of events. 120 hectares of lush nature that host the luxurious and comfortable facilities of the most loved and awarded resort in Sardinia, which through an exclusive selection of haute couture boutiques and artisan shops has always been a spokesperson for the elegance and refinement of Italian and international high fashion.

Over 500 guests from all over the world, including the brand’s best customers, international press, celebrities and top models, who had the pleasure of attending evocative fashion shows, tasting the delicacies of Sardinian cuisine and enjoying an experience of immersion in the world of fashion, craftsmanship and local savoir-faire.

It started with the presentation of the collection Alta Gioielleria in Piazza Luisa, the beating heart of the Resort, decorated for the occasion with a poetic scenography of golden sheaves illuminated by hypnotic light plays in order to enhance the delicate art of filigree; then it continued with the fashion show Alta Moda Collection, a tribute to Sardinian craftsmanship weaving techniques, hosted in the suggestive archaeological site of Nora just less than fifteen minutes by car from the Resort, and the collection Alta Sartoria, opened in a scenographic way by a parade of 700 people in traditional costumes, horses and carts pulled by oxen adorned with flowers, a realistic re-enactment of the heartfelt procession in honor of Sant’Efisio, which every year on May 1 enlivens the streets of the Sardinian capital.

The concerts of two of the most beloved pop music icons of the contemporary international music scene, Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry, characterized the celebration of the opening and closing of this intense week, which has certainly had the credit of bringing Sardinia to the international spotlight both as a tourist destination and a place of interest for culture and style. And it’s precisely this ability to evolve, change and adapt to needs and trends of modernity, without ever losing its own regional identity, that makes Sardinia so special, a place where past and present cross paths to create something really unique.

Do you want to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of high fashion through Sardinian culture and craftsmanship experiencing a dream vacation in a true paradise? Discover Forte Village Resort in Sardinia