#MCCOTInterview {1}
Ludovica and Ginevra Fagioli, the creative duo of Caftanii
When you plan to become an entrepreneur and to launch your own brand, finding the right business partner (the perfect one) is most of the time very difficult. Sometimes even impossible. But, for some few lucky people, as Florentine Twins Ludovica and Ginevra Fagioli, it is a whole other story. It indeed came naturally to them: They had each other. In 2015, they founded Caftanii a timeless, charming and feminine Clothing Brand ‘Made in Tuscany’. Let’s chat with two close-knit sisters who are working hard every day to achieve their dream of becoming successful female entrepreneur and why not, Role Models for next generations.
Who are you?
Ginevra: Ginevra and Ludovica, 35-year-old twins from Florence. Passionate about everything that evokes grace and elegance, good manners and kindness. We love to travel and enjoy family time. Anytime we can, we love to escape to Paris or to the Dolomites, both our happy places!
Which personal path and professional
career brought you to the launch of your brand?
Ludovica: Ginevra and I are twins (just like the ones intertwined in the logo) but with a completely different character. At the end of our studies (Economics for Ginevra and International Law for me) we felt the desire to create something together and to give birth to a common project. Travelling is what makes us curious and drew us towards the realization that fashion is everywhere. We can’t get enough of discovering textiles, fabrics, undiscovered boutiques, dresses, vintage markets and of observing how women of different origins and cultures love to dress up. Travels permitted us to discover and deepen the passion for fabrics, embroideries, traditions and for that certain elegant, charming and casual lifestyle that we try to express through our creations.
When Caftanii was born?
G: The idea of working together and to create Caftanii was born in 2015; then it took us a little while to find the right ingredients like for example a high standard Tuscan factory and the finest fabrics suppliers etc. We could say that our official launch on the market was in summer 2018.
Is there any anecdote behind the name you choose?
L: We wanted to express the vibes and the atmosphere of our project, starting from the name itself. We love caftans; we love that casual and relaxed lifestyle they represent. Double ii just like the two of us!
As twins, did you ever know that one day
you’ll become business partners?
L: We have completely different attitudes. When we were university students, we had different interests and goals, but of course we’ve always dreamt to be connected somehow. Then we started Caftanii and understood that having the chance to work side by side was a bless we would be forever thankful for.
How is your daily creative routine at the
office? Who does what?
L: We are at the office every day from 9.00 to 19.00. We hope you could come to visit us soon. We are 10 minutes away from Florence downtown, surrounded by Tuscan hills. We are into the creative process together, then we divide our responsibilities: while Ginevra is more into the financial side, I’m more visual and marketing contents.
How does your Florentine heritage influence your
collections?
G: Living in Florence gives you a deep sense of aesthetics in the most spontaneous way, as you are constantly surrounded by beauty, art, geometry often hidden in the most subtle details. We feel so blessed to be born in such a creative and special country like Italy, and Florence is just magic for us.
Caftanii in three words…
G + L: Since day 1: Timeless, charming and feminine.
‘Process matters. Quality matters. Honesty matters ’.
Is it your motto?
G: We took inspiration from the Slow Fashion movement, and we thought it was important to have it deeply rooted in our culture from the early days. It’s both our motto and our philosophy. It’s mandatory for us to be honest.
How do you feel being female entrepreneur in Italy?
L: It’s very challenging - and sometimes we would say frustrating - to be an entrepreneur in Italy, no matter if you’re a man or a woman. We are submerged by bureaucracy, so many taxes, and, maybe, little curiosity for younger generations. But that can’t be an excuse to give up. We strongly believe that hard work pays off.
Did you ever dream of opening your own shop?
G: Still not consider this challenge but of course we would love to have our own shop where we could welcome all our clients and introduce them to the Caftanii lifestyle. It would be a concept store containing all the elements we love, as well as, all our creations. We’d love to include our other passions, such as interior design, art, and books. We’d consider it an entrance to the Caftanii world.
What’s
next?
L: To Improve day by day. The most important goal is to increase our contacts, to become synonym of a refined way to dress all day long and to bring Caftanii to become a lifestyle concept on its own.
All the pictures are Courtesy of Caftanii
IG
@caftaniifirenze
#madeinToscany
#femaleentrepreneur
#Fashionbrand
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