Color, Craft & Confidence

A crowd gathered in the Palazzi Community Center on the evening of October 28 to hear from world-renowned jeweler, Angela Caputi. One of the contemporary prides of Florence, Caputi’s pieces are worn all over the world, and she spoke at Via Ricasoli 21 for over an hour about her work, life, and inspiration.

Creating jewelry since 1975, Caputi’s style is defined by her fusion of traditional craftsmanship with modern sensibilities. Her pieces display a feeling of elegance and class while simultaneously standing out due to their striking features. In her panel, hosted by The American University of Florence, Caputi detailed her upbringing in the world of fashion and described how she believes her products change the lives of women for the better.

Caputi first found inspiration for her jewelry from the Hollywood films of the mid-20th Century. Italian film at the time was deep in a wave of neorealism, where the harsh realities of life after World War II were depicted in painstaking fashion. While this style captivated many Italians at the time, Caputi was drawn to the bold, brash look seen in movies from across the Atlantic. She felt inspired by the innovative colors and designs and aspired to bring those sensibilities to Italy.

Her bijoux was a success, and today there are two Caputi shops open in Florence, one on Via Santo Spirito, and one north of the Arno on Borgo Sant’Apostoli. She also has stores in Milan and Rome. Her pieces being authentically Italian is one aspect of Caputi’s mission that has remained consistent for almost 50 years. Despite the widespread success of her brand, Caputi continues to use exclusively Italian materials, with all of her pieces hand-crafted in Italy.

“The simple reason to use Italian materials is because the material produced in Italy is very good,” said Caputi.

Another important principle for Caputi has been remaining a relatively small operation in order to preserve the intimate, hand-crafted nature of her work as an artisan. As fashion brands grow larger, it can be difficult to maintain the level of quality that is necessary to cement their status as luxury designers on the cutting edge of the industry. By staying local to Italy, and Florence in particular, Caputi retains the authentic character of her jewelry.

Caputi’s pieces have been showcased in some of the most prestigious museums and exhibits in the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Her jewelry has also been featured in the same Hollywood productions that inspired her half a century ago.

During her discussion with the audience, Caputi outlined how she aims to empower women with a greater sense of beauty and confidence. A strong, elegant piece of jewelry can make a person feel more assured of themself. During the time of Caputi’s emergence in the fashion world, Italy was in the midst of a concerted push for expansion of women’s rights. Her work reflects that struggle and acts as a bolster for the women still working towards it today.

“The reason I use very strong colors is because European women have a lot of success combining those colors and shapes. The first thing I do is study the proportion of the face and the colors of the face,” said Caputi. “With those in mind, I produce the piece.”

With close to 15,000 pieces in her archive, Angela Caputi has amassed a monumental legacy over five decades in the fashion sphere. Her work reflects not only herself and her character, but also the inherent Italian world it came from. The chance to spend an hour with Caputi, and hear her insights on her life and career, was a unique opportunity for visitors to the Palazzi Community Center that they will not soon forget.

Stop by the Palazzi Community Center, located at via Ricasoli, 21 for the next event, Letture in Giardino: Le Distanze Della Solitudine on Tuesday, December 2. Reserve your spot today.