ARTISTIC EMBROIDERY & HAUTE COUTURE
By receiving the title of Best Craftsperson in France in November 2007 (a 3-cornered hat) – awarded every 3 years on a given subject representing over 1200 hours of work – Victoria Darolti showed the extent of her technical mastery in all her areas of expertise.
Third-generation embroiderer Victoria Darolti has practiced the art of needlework since the age of 9. Stitch by stitch she explored lace, sewing, knitting … and ultimately established herself as an artistic embroiderer.
For over 30 years, all types of fabrics, sequins, Swarovski jewels in silicone and other polymers have glided through her experienced and agile hands.
Victoria treats and sublimates every kind of material. From cutting up and reinventing her sister’s clothes to using her brother-in-law’s bespoke clothing workshop as a playground: today her creativity and unlimited curiosity are equalled only by her experience.
Artistic embroidery is a profession; her passionate and unconditional love for it brought her to the École Lesage in Paris at the age of 27 where she completed a professional internship in artistic haute couture embroidery, interior decoration and the “prick and pounce” technique.
As a sample-embroiderer at Ateliers Vermont, she worked on collections for fashion houses whose names evoke exceptional refinement and elegance: Givenchy, Chanel, Valentino, Dior, Armani….
She “illuminates” stage costumes and wedding gowns; her adaptability, expertise and originality also allow her to meet the expectations of luxury ready-to-wear companies such as Prada, Versace, Emilio Pucci, Gianfranco Ferré…
Using the needle and Lunéville hook technique, she practices the art of personalizing patterns and embroidery in areas as varied as tailoring (for wedding gowns, ball gowns, ready-to-wear and haute couture) and home furnishing (armchairs and medallions, curtains, tiebacks…). In 2008 she created Ateliers Darolti.
Victoria finds inspiration in everything that surrounds her and catches her discerning eye: she can give form or shape to and interpret or stylize nature, architecture, painting … In her expert hands, silk, leather, feathers and mother-of-pearl are transformed; combinations as harmonious as they are unexpected meet every challenge to surprise and even dazzle us. Through her passion she communicates soul and emotion.
It is found in everyday life via nature, architecture, Japanese art. Its roots lie in the Renaissance, in history, in period costumes or even an old handbag!
Undeniable, essential: the pattern captures an idea and harmonises it. On tracing paper, it is separated into millimeters, meticulously following the design of a piece to be created. It is the memory of the creative process.
First pricked and then transferred to the fabric or material to be embroidered, the pattern is set in keeping with the ancient practice of the embroidery trade.
Noble as crystal, mother-of-pearl, gemstones, gold or silver leaf and threads. Delicate as silk or cotton, soft as mink and light as feathers. Bright and shiny as pearls, rhinestones and sequins. Hard as metal, supple as leather and stretchy as silicone…everything can be embroidered.
The work is always done flat on a mounted frame, respecting clearly defined rules. The hand carefully moves along the canvas on the front and back sides using the needle or Lunéville hook technique. Rigor, precision, patience and strong eyesight are essential traits that, with experience, transform the piece into a unique work of art.
The designer, milliner, shoemaker, furrier or tapestry-maker give shape and life during construction or assembly, creating custom-made pieces.
For further information, please send us an email at info@ateliers-darolti.com or call us at +33(0) 6 13 01 48 81.
