6 fashion boutiques in Venice every style maven should know: avoid the Piazza San Marco tourist traps with our guide to independent shops and artisanal textiles
Find jewellery at Codognato, textiles at Chiarastella Cattana and Fortuny, friulane Venetian slippers at Piedaterre, glassware at France Thierard and bags and accessories at Dellaluna
Shopping in Venice is not for the faint-hearted. The city is crammed with almost as many shops as there are tourists, offering something for every taste and budget, whether it’s a big-brand bag or handblown glass trinket.
But away from the glitzy designer boutiques that line the main thoroughfare between Piazza San Marco and the Ponte dell’Accademia, you’ll find a growing group of independent artisans and creatives offering covetable products that combine tradition with modern appeal.
“I grew up in Venice, where charming yet very important artisanal works have always been a part of the city’s magic,” says fashion publicist Cristina Malgara. “Its unique combination of artisanal savoir faire, fresh creativity and contemporary craftsmanship has managed to sustain a vibrant artistic spirit within the islands’ perimeter. This harmonious blend of tradition and innovation makes Venice a beacon for artistic talent.”
Today, Venice not only attracts artists, collectors and writers but designers too, ranging from established names like Aquazzura founder Edgardo Osorio and jeweller Francesca Amfitheatrof, to young talents drawn to its centuries-old ateliers.
1. Codognato
The history of Codognato is closely intertwined with that of Venice – it opened its doors in 1866, right when the city was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. The jeweller attracts an extremely varied, high-profile clientele ranging from royalty to style icons and celebrities. Clients over the years have included Wallis Simpson, Grace Kelly, María Félix, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, A$AP Rocky and Natalia Vodianova. It’s now run by the family’s fifth generation, brother and sister Mario and Cristina Codognato, who have enlisted the talents of their friend Amfitheatrof – also the former Tiffany & Co. and now Louis Vuitton jewellery designer – as the new head of creative. Although the boutique recently relocated, you can still expect to find eclectic and one-of-a-kind pieces, including baroque-style gem-studded crosses, mystical skull rings carved from gold and enamel, and diamond-encrusted serpent bracelets.
1316 Calle Vallaresso; attiliocodognato.it
2. Chiarastella Cattana
There is no shortage of textile suppliers in Venice, but long-time resident and Milanese transplant Chiarastella Cattana is known for her exquisite taste. For over 15 years, she has stocked her airy shop with her own designs, including cushions, waffle-knit bath towels, linen napkins and tablecloths in contemporary colours and patterns. While many of these aren’t made in Venice, they showcase the work of centuries-old mills and craftsmen from regions such as the Dolomites, where Cattana stumbled on a unique jacquard that is now a bestseller. Many styles are also accented with embroideries – a signature Venetian touch.