The Art of Italian Elegance: Discovering Laura Santi and Ellesanti Jewelry

I bought my first piece of Ellesanti years ago, before Artful Italia was even a thought. I was attracted to the unique design and creativity of the jewelry. Each time I wear the jewelry I own from Ellesanti I get stopped and complimented or asked where it came from.

As our team began putting together our list of artisans we wanted to work with I suggested Ellesanti. Everyone agreed. Then one day a friend of one of our team members sent a link to an image of the Ellesanti jewelry and said we needed to work with them. When a friend or customer makes a request we try our best to work with the artisan if they fit our requirements. Ellesanti definitely did, but getting to Padova was not on our radar in the time frame we wanted to add Ellesanti. In stepped another friend. She took up the request, went to visit them and helped to establish a relationship that has grown over the last few months.

As we have learned more about Ellesanti and their team of women, and we have seen more of their jewelry pieces we knew they would be a great addition to Artful Italia's group and also that we had waited too long to ask them to join us. Italian culture is different from American culture, it is very important to establish a relationship before working together. This difference has been such a blessing for us. We would miss out on the kindness, creativity and support we experience with each artisan and the team at Ellesanti is no different. We greatly admire their diversity in design, their exploration of unique materials and their commitment to quality.

Spend a few minutes getting to know them, we think you will find inspiration in their words and design, just as we have.

1.How did Ellesanti get started? 

ELLESANTI® is a project of Laura Santi.

After years of experience in the world of jewelry design, in 2021 she embarked on a new course, a personal expressive quest with the ELLESANTI® brand.

ELLESANTI® jewelry are ethereal and versatile creations with a dynamic and multifaceted nature, born from observation and craftsmanship to shape original sequences that pander to the nature of materials and generate a visual, tactile and aesthetic experience of beauty.

2.Where does the inspiration for the collections come from?

ELLESANTI® jewelry comes from the desire to explore and interpret the aesthetic canons of art and nature, architecture and design through the act of creativity. Artistic attitudes and tensions draw inspiration from the search for and experimentation with pure and essential, absolute forms.

The purity of geometries inspired by the modular capacity of materials and the infinite shades of color transforms jewelry into a timeless, free element, more than an accessory, an experience that generates emotions.

Each ELLESANTI® piece of jewelry possesses its own story and name: everything comes from a project dedicated to the pursuit of beauty and vitality.

3.Why are Made in Italy products so appreciated around the world?

Made in Italy products are appreciated because they represent a fusion of quality, aesthetics, authenticity, tradition and innovation. They are more than just objects: they are ambassadors of Italian culture around the world.

Italy has a long tradition of craftsmanship, passed down from generation to generation. Whether it is fashion, design, or other. Italian aesthetic taste is recognized internationally. Italy is home to iconic brands in fashion, industrial design, furniture, and automobiles, which have been able to fuse functionality and elegance.

Italian products manage to combine technological innovation and respect for tradition. This balance makes them modern but rooted in a deep cultural history, an element highly valued abroad.

The “Made in Italy” brand is perceived as synonymous with reliability, luxury and prestige. It has also been built over time through effective storytelling of Italian culture, evoking images of beauty, taste, elegance and passion.

4.You use many different materials in your jewelry. How did you discover these materials would be beautiful for jewelry?

The genesis of ELLESANTI® jewelry lies in the study of materials and experimentation with their expressive potential. But, above everything is craftsmanship.

ELLESANTI® jewelry is created in a light-filled atelier where a female team contributes, each for their expertise, to transform ideas into creative expressions through attention to detail and the precision of the gesture, image and word that represents it.

The creative process, from conception to experimentation, finds fulfillment in the careful execution and craftsmanship skills and constantly draws on the study of design as part of a well-established cultural heritage.

Ideas are born and take shape in hands and designs, becoming creations capable of GENERATING EMOTION.

5.What do you think is the most beautiful thing in Padova?

The absolute masterpiece: the Scrovegni Chapel.

Frescoed by Giotto between 1303 and 1305, it is one of the most important pictorial cycles in the world.

It tells the story of the Virgin and Christ with revolutionary expressiveness and use of color.

Considered a turning point in the history of Western art.

6.If someone can only visit Italy once, what city or work of art or architecture should they see?

For the unique beauty and architecture integrated with the environment, I would suggest Venice, a city near us-the city itself is a work of art, with St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge and its calli(small streets, almost like alleyways) and canals.

Venice is not only a place to visit, but to live as a multisensory experience: among lights, reflections on the water, sounds of oars, mysterious calli, and the incredible feeling of walking in a city “suspended” between dream and reality.

7.What is your favorite Italian dish?

Actually, there is no absolute favorite dish, because Italian cuisine is incredibly rich and varied. Each dish has its own time and occasion. And if you then accompany it with a good wine, the experience turns into a real riot of flavors

8.Tell us about the Ellesanti team.

We are an all-female team, consisting of 6 women: Laura the owner and designer, Fernanda in charge of online and in-store sales, Sabrina in charge of production, Agnese takes care of the digital and social part, Caterina takes care of the text and Linkedin contacts part, and Alessandra in charge of sales

9.Do you have a favorite piece or collection?

Laura, founder and designer, does not feel attached to a single piece of jewelry in particular: each creation carries with it a unique story and a personal vision, making each piece part of a journey of searching for beauty to share with the public.

We are not able to choose a favorite piece either. Each piece is as unique as those of us who wear them. So we leave it up to you to explore the Ellesanti collection on our site, and then choose your own favorite. We would love if you would share it with us!

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