Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 338 896 21 89;
www.gabrielegmeiner.com
;
Campiello del Sol 951, San Polo; by appointment 10am-1pm &
3-7pm; Rialto-Mercato)
Paris, London, Venice: Gabriele Gmeiner honed her shoemaking
craft at Hermès and John Lobb, and today jet-setters fly to Venice just for her ultrasleek
Oxfords with hidden 'bent' seams and minutely handstiched brogues, made to measure for
men and women (around €3000, including hand-carved wooden last). If Gabriele's not on
site, she's probably at Guidecca women's prison, leading shoe-design job-training pro-
grams.
HIBISCUS
( 041 520 89 89; Ruga Ravano 1061, San Polo; 10am-7.30pm; San Silvestro)
Blend in at the Bien-
nale with Venice's creative crossroads style, layered piece by distinctive piece at Hibiscus:
easygoing Italian linen swing dresses, Okinawan indigo wrap jackets, ombre violet Kash-
miri cashmere shawls, French watercolour-patterned socks and Maria Calderara pop-art
resin necklaces. As original as ready-to-wear gets and priced accordingly, but sales are
fabulous.
FASHION
VENEZIASTAMPA
MAP
ARTISANAL, PAPER GOODS
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 71 54 55;
www.veneziastampa.com
; Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini 2173, Santa Croce;
8.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-12.30pm Sat; San Stae)
Mornings are best to catch the 1930s Heidel-
berg machine in action - but whenever you arrive, you'll find mementos hot off the pro-
verbial press. Veneziastampa recalls more elegant times, when postcards were gorgeously
lithographed and Casanovas invited dates upstairs to 'look at my etchings'. Pick your sig-
nature symbols - meteors, faucets, trapeze artists - for original stationery, menus and
bookplates.
NERODISEPPIA
MAP
ARTISANAL, DESIGN STORE
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 865 18 89;
www.nerodiseppiavenezia.com
; Calle Larga dei Bari 968, Santa Croce; noon-7pm Mon-Sat;
Ferrovia)
In the indie heart of Venice's student quarter, this collective gallery replaces
Venetian baroque glitz with handmade organic originality: gondola-prowed bisque tea-
cups, driftwood earrings, handwoven shawls in soft mossy and violet tweed and blankets
made of natural black sheep's wool. Nerodiseppia doubles as an alt-culture hub, hosting
art openings, CD release parties and local zine launches - and you're invited.
LABERINTHO
ARTISANAL, JEWELLERY
