We sat down with Viola and Vera to get the lowdown on the shoe which has become one of our packing essentials for everything from a sun to city break.
10 May, 2017
Venice is the "floating city", a place of architectural riches, enduring luxury, winding canals and glittering palazzos. Sisters and design duo Viola and Vera Arrivabene are no strangers to this enchanting land, having grown up calling Venice's 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli home.
The creative pair - who hail from the Savoia dynasty - are the founders of Vibi Venezia, a line of luxury shoes based on the traditional Venetian Furlane slipper. The shoe is an artefact of Venice's rich history which transcends both generation and gender, having been worn by everyone from aristocrats to gondoliers, who favoured them for their luxurious associations and practicality. Begged by friends to fill their suitcases with the chic footwear, the sisters decided to set up a line which combined the key elements of Venetian tradition with contemporary textiles inspired by their travels.
We sat down with Viola and Vera to get the lowdown on the shoe which has become one of our packing essentials for everything from a sun to city break.
Vibi Venezia
Viola and Vera Arrivabene
Venice
Between Venice and London
Footwear
The Furlane sums up the heart of Venice. Other than being the attire of gondoliers it was a staple in the wardrobes of our ancestors - perfect for sneaking around their chambers in silence! The gondoliers later adopted these plush velvet slippers with their robust rubber soles (traditionally made from old bicycle tires) so as not to ruin the paint on their boats.
You need a pair of stylish but comfortable flat shoes to explore Venice. We design for someone who needs to run from a meeting to an exhibition opening, and then out to dinner with friends.
Definitely someone who loves travelling and Italian heritage. When we design our shoes, we always think about our own personal style and, of course, our friends. In fact, every pair of shoes is named after a friend or member of our family, or someone who reminds us of that exact pair of Vibis.
Very. Our shoes are all handmade in a little town in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, just a two-hour drive from Venice. Our craftspeople are all specialists in the artisan techniques involved in making the typical Furlane.
Vera and I are very similar but at the same time quite different - we make the perfect match! I'm [Viola] more creative, whereas Vera's more involved on the business side of things.
The ultimate dream would be to do something with Maria Grazia Chiuri. We are madly in love with the new Dior collections.
A short Dior dress, white GAP T-shirt, a pair of jeans, Osanna Madina Visconti earrings, LGR sunglasses and Sisley sun face cream.
Antica Trattoria Alle Carampane is our absolute favourite place! But Harrys Dolci on the Giudecca Island for a sunset dinner looking over the lagoon is not to be missed either.
100%. We are always inspired by our travels and learning about different cultures around the world.
The Alex Eagle Concept Store on Lexington Street, Soho.
Museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington and the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. Also walking around the vibrant Brick Lane in East London and vintage hunting on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.
We really want to share Venetian heritage through our shoes all around the world!
