NORWEGIAN INDIGENOUS FASHION - MADE IN ITALY: A TALE OF RESILIENCE AND DISCOVERY
A solo odyssey through Italy in search of the finest shoemakers and furriers
April 2022 marked the start of a remarkable journey — a leap from the icy vastness of Norway to the sun-drenched landscapes of Northern Italy's Veneto and Lombardy regions. With nothing more than a dram of creating a true Norwegian Indigenous Fashion Brand, a rental car and a couple of hotel reservations, my mission was to follow the serendipitous path of providence and valuable insights.
My first destination was Montebelluna, a place that instantly felt like home. Despite a luggage mishap courtesy of the airline and limited options due to closed shops, the universe had a touch of irony in store: the only open shop was a shoe store. There, I swapped my casual travel attire for elegant Italian footwear, perfectly complementing the reindeer furs I had managed to safeguard in my other suitcase.
It wasn't long before I discovered the artisans who would become GÁBA’s Italian partners. They were welcoming and unpretentious; they approved of my laid-back attire. We exchanged stories — mine about the heritage of Northern Sámi reindeer herding, theirs about generations of impeccable craftsmanship. They were intrigued by the unique quality of reindeer leather, a material they had never worked with before. Together, we explored design sketches and prototype possibilities, overcoming language barriers to finalize a prototype that married Italian craftsmanship with Sámi tradition.
Next stop: Bergamo, or so I thought. In search of one of the world's last remaining bundle makers, Marco, I ended up in the wrong city, six hours away. Despite this detour, Marco graciously assured me, "I will wait for you, no problem." As the soulful voice of Sámi artist Mari Boine filled my car, I knew I had fallen irrevocably in love with Italy.
Finally reaching Marco in Pesaro-San Marino, I was awed by his workshop — a haven filled with luxurious furs and designer creations. Marco's expertise extended to major fashion houses like Gucci and Burberry. When presented with my reindeer furs, his conviction was absolute: "Everything is possible." I knew then that Marco was GÁBA's destined bundle maker. This is where I could start crafting the GÁBA boot - it marked the beginning of my Norwegian Indigenous Fashion Brand.
The next chapter involved scouring Southern Italy for the ideal tannery — none in the north could meet the specific needs of reindeer fur tanning. This marked the beginning of multiple enriching trips to Italy.
Four years on, the journey has been educational, challenging, and immensely rewarding. Along the way, I’ve met extraordinary people — artisans who are guardians of traditional craftsmanship, much like the Sámi duojáre. They are the human links connecting Norway's sprawling landscapes to Italy’s sun-kissed terrains, with the globe as our marketplace.
The GÁBA adventure is far from over; in fact, it has only just begun.
