In the heart of Naples, among the alleys scented with coffee and laundry drying in the sun, in 1960, a young woman named Filomena Esposito began embroidering in the small living room of her home. For her, embroidery was not just a pastime, but an art passed down through generations—an invisible thread that tied the past to the future.
With skilled hands and infinite patience, Filomena created bed linens, tablecloths, and handkerchiefs adorned with floral embroidery, elegant monograms, and motifs inspired by Neapolitan tradition. Her creations soon began to circulate among the ladies of high society, who vied for her work to enrich their daughters’ trousseaus before marriage.
L'Atelier
L’Atelier di Filomena: A Thread of History and Passion
The Move to Carrara and the Birth of the Atelier in Ceparana
In the 1970s, Filomena’s life took an unexpected turn: for family reasons, she moved to Carrara, the city of marble. Far from the alleys of Naples but still driven by the same passion, she decided to transform this change into an opportunity.
It was during this time, spurred by the desire to turn her talent into a true business, that she opened her first atelier in Ceparana, a small town on the border between Tuscany and Liguria. Here, her work met a new clientele: noble families, boutiques from Florence and Milan, and even designers began commissioning bespoke embroideries.
Growth and Success
During the 1980s, the Atelier Filomena grew rapidly. With increasing demand, Filomena hired young apprentices, passing on to them the secrets of her craft, just as her grandmother had done with her. The 1990s marked its ultimate recognition: major fashion houses began collaborating with the atelier, commissioning exclusive embroideries for evening gowns and luxury linens.
The Atelier Today: A Benchmark in Luxury and Design
Today, more than 60 years after its founding, what once was Atelier Filomena has evolved into Versilia Ricami, a well-established presence in the world of luxury textile design. Its artisanal tradition has grown and adapted to the demands of an increasingly refined and bespoke market.
The atelier collaborates with international designers and produces tailor-made textile decorations ranging from luxury interiors to the worlds of yachting, hospitality, and private aviation.
Each creation is born from the union of tradition and innovation: from opulent Gino draperies to the final textile detail that enhances a home, an exclusive hotel, or the salon of a mega-yacht. Versilia Ricami has become the point of reference for those seeking excellence in embroidery and high-end textiles.
Even as it has grown into a renowned brand, the atelier has never lost its essence: every piece still carries the love and care with which Filomena, so many years ago, wove her first threads in her small living room. And today, in the expert hands of the embroiderers of Carrara, that art continues to live, keeping alive the dream of a woman who transformed her talent into a story of success.
