“FROM STRAW TO HAT” Straw Interweaving between Italy, Switzerland and England

Symbol of a sober and refined elegance, a chic accessory for her and dandy for him,  the  straw hat -  whose everlasting charm has been attested by icons of style such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Federico Fellini and Queen Elisabeth II - is the protagonist of “From Straw  to  Hat”, an original travelling exhibition which from Switzerland (Bleichi, in the town of Wohlen, May 8th – June 6th), where it opens in spring, arrives then in Italy at the height of summer (Marino Marini Museum, in the town of Florence, June 29th – July 31st)  to end in Luton, England, in autumn. A blade of straw was indeed what in the history of the last century interwove the industrial fortunes of the Swiss town in the German Canton of Aargau, of Tuscany and of the English town, once a production centre of straw hats. 
Five are the exhibition sections designed by an all-Lucernese team formed by  Caroline Felber (idea, research work, www.huete.ch), Robi Müller (www.shape.to; project management, research work), Martina Nievergelt (setting), Jörg Grüniger (graphic design), Urs Hangartner (research and editorial work), Kubik, Horw-Luzern (constructions).
The exhibition - rich in photos and texts, multimedia documents, and, of course, straw hats to touch and try on – starts with a historical and didactic section  where the visitor can learn more about the raw materials, products and the business relations  which characterized the flourishing international “triangle” of Switzerland-Italy-England (Wohlen-Florence-Luton).  And if the second section, focusing on economic and social aspects, analyses the relationship between labour and machines in the age  of industrialization, the third one will certainly seduce fashion addicts and designers. The latter, in fact, displays different types of hats and introduces the visitor to the fine art, today almost disappeared, of creating the straw hat accessory in a true millinery. Finally, the full-blown product: a collection of haute couture hats  or rather “hat couture” specially created for the occasion.
In Florence,  its Italian venue, “From Straw to Hat”, promoted and sponsored by the Osservatorio dei Mestieri d'Arte of the Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze -  which, since 2006,  has been working to promote the excellence of artistic handicraft  and hand-made products – has its own distinctive features. Set up  in the charming crypt of what was once the Church of San Pancrazio - today the seat of the Marino Marini Museum - the exhibition will play host to more than twenty important straw hat creators, still active in Campi, Signa and Florence, willing to showcase the best of their artistic production.  Blades of straw but also precious  feathers - the raw materials used by the Tuscan milliners whose creations are much sought-after by boutiques all over the world and as regards certain details even by haute couture fashion houses.
Among the treats offered to the visitor  there will be the possibility to observe from close up the creation of a hat by one of the craftsmen taking part in the exhibition.



Info
Marino Marini Museum (www.museomarinomarini.it) - OmA - www.osservatoriomestieridarte.it
Exhibition Hours 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. , closed on Tuesdays and holidays
Tickets (full-price 4 €, reduced-price 2 €)
Press info –   high-resolution images can be requested at: stampa@osservatoriomestieridarte.it