Elda Cecchele

There is little more satisfying then to learn something new. For some reason Elda Cecchele had never hit my radar, so I must thank the the  blogger Doni for sharing details of this exhibition on her wonderful blog and flickr photostream. I'm filled with envy that I won't get to see this exhibition, but grateful to have at least seen these photographs. If any of you do find yourself in Italy, the exhibition continues until the 13th of March.

The exhibition poster.
Source: http://www.vogue.it/en/talents/blog-from/2010/12/elda-cecchele



Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/



Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/



Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18843761@N03/sets/72157625614428771/with/5320807185/

Although I've only done some cursory googling to try and find out more, information about Elda Cecchele seems thin on the ground (well in English at least). Another case of the rather anonymous textile designer in the shadows of the big fashion 'names'. If any of you know more sources of information about her, I'd be really grateful if you could share them.

This is the little bit of info on the Italian Vogue website about the exhibition:

A figure to rediscover. Her work inspired some of the greatest designers between the 50s and 70s in Italy. The Elda Cecchele exhibition is dedicated to this weaver from the Italian region of The Veneto who is a point of reference of fashion of yesteryear.

The exhibition in the form of weavings will be inaugurated December 4 at 5 p.m. at the Lanificio Conte a Schio Exhibition Hall.  It is organised by the City of Schio with the support of the Region of Veneto, and its curator is Marisa Luisa Frisa, director of the Fashion Design degree course at the Venice Faculty of Design and Arts (IUAV University of Venice), along with Gabriele Monte, who teaches Concept Design at the Fashion Design degree course.

The exhibit is an opportunity to discover, for the first time, the extraordinary work of Elda Cecchele (1915-1998) who contributed to the success of great 20th century Italian designers with the fabrics she made in the Galliera Veneta (Padua) workshop.
http://www.vogue.it/en/talents/blog-from/2010/12/elda-cecchele

And here is a biography (translated by google from Italian, so some of the wording is rather clunky)

ELDA Cecchele (1915-1998)

Elda Pavan was born in 1915 in San Martino di Lupari, in the province of Padua. After education, the meeting with Angela, a worker in the mill town of Abbazia Pisani, born in Elda is the desire to learn the technical textiles. So start with a production of underwear for Angela, an activity that continues until 1937, the occasion of the marriage Cecchele Gino, a member of a family owns two mills, determines the end of that year working relationship between the two women.

After the end of World War II, like many other mills, including that of Cecchele cease production. Elda and Gino at the time of settling in an abandoned mills, in San Martino di Lupari, home where she sets up a new weaving workshop. After purchasing a first hand loom and have entered in the register of artisans, the weaver increases the activity of buying four frames provided tiralicci machine and, with the increase of orders, began to make use of two aid workers.

With the support of the Veneto Institute of Labour, an institution dedicated to promoting the craft Veneto in Italy and abroad, Elda Cecchele began to exhibit in international events and to establish contacts with entrepreneurs in the fashion world. Since then renewed opportunities to publicly present the production of the laboratory: in 1950 he exhibited his products in the handicrafts at the exhibition organized at the Bevilacqua La Masa and participate in the Craft Show held dall'Enapi of Monaco of Bavaria. In 1952, again through the National Board of handicrafts and small industries, takes part in an international exhibition in Oslo. At that time also dates back to the beginning of the meeting together with Giuliana Camerino for the production of materials for accessories. In 1953 he exhibited at the Craft Show, at which a diploma of honor and knows Giovan Battista Giorgini, while the following year he was called by Salvatore Ferragamo that calls for new materials for its shoes. At the same time meets Polish Franca, fashion designer to realize that many original materials until the early sixties. In 1956 and in 1960 she was invited to participate in the Decorative Arts section of the Italy pavilion, XXVIII and XXX, respectively, the Venice Biennale. In 1957 in Palazzo Venezia in the presence of Loredan Giorgini and personalities from the worlds of fashion handbags are made of Roberta di Camerino, wrapped with a fabric woven with pearls produced by Elda Cecchele.

Around 1960 the family moved to Cecchele Galliera Veneta, in 'ex-mill belonged to the husband's family, where a new place, in some locals, including the textile laboratory. At that time you start a collection of textiles for the firm Roberta di Camerino and collaboration with designer accessories and Galleani Gino Franco Gregori. In 1978, the weaver represents Italy in the tissues at the Italian Festival in Tokyo.
Elda Cecchele dies Galliera Veneta in 1998 and part of his textile background is still there, the site where he worked until his retirement grant, in 1986.
http://www.comune.schio.vi.it/a_15_IT_37163_2.html