One day I went to an antiques shop. I like to go there, because you can often buy something really special for little money. Such a unique thing was a purse made of tiny beads. I asked about the price and the seller replied that it costs PLN 4 (then around USD 0.80). I paid without hesitation.
Because the bag was signed, I decided to check the signature and the inscription "Roberta Camerino" on the network. I have never heard of such a brand before, so I started to browse websites with curiosity. To my amazement, it turned out that the Roberta Cameriono brand is very well known not only in Italy but all over the world.
The founder of the brand was Giuliana Camerino. She came from Venice, from the old Jewish family Coen. Her grandfather had a pigment factory in which as a young girl she learned to combine colors. In 1943, together with her husband and two children, they escaped from persecution of Jews to Switzerland. This is where Guliana began to design handbags. She made the first of them for herself. However, she mag not enjoy it long, because the purse so delighted a woman on the bus that she asked Guliana to sell it. It was the beginning of Guiana's career as a designer.
Guliana began designing handbags for a local leather goods store. The bags she designed and made were unique. She used as material thick baroque fabrics, velvet, beads. Each bag was made by hand and was unique. In 1945, the Camerino family returned to Italy. In her grandfather's old tannery, Guliana founded her studio, where she successfully designed not only handbags but also clothing and glasses. Gucci, Bottego Veneta, Cavalli, Gautlier and Prada copied Guliana ideas. It made her cry. She never copied anyone herself, because she used her own creativity in the work of the designer.
In 1980, Guliana Camerino closed its fashion house. She focused on license agreements for ties, scarves, aprons and ties. The brand was renewed in 1996, and handbags were sold by New York department stores. Since 2008, the Roberta Camerino brand has belonged to the Sixty Group company, and Camerino brand handbags belong to luxury goods. Guliana left this world on May 10, 2010 at the age of 89.
Rich with this knowledge, I looked at the purse very closely. In fact, it was a small masterpiece. The intricate design of a thousand tiny beads in the color of old gold, the bottom decorated with sequins and stones, the original clasp, three small organizers inside the purse, make it a jewel in itself.
It probably came from 1960-1970. Noteworthy is the fastening in the form of 2 side buttons, which when pressed release the lock. On these handles there is a chain that serves as a handle.
The condition of the bag was not perfect, needed renovation. I decided to sell it. The client found herself fairly quickly, and I earned "on clean" 62 USD. If the condition of the purse were better, the income would be higher.
All I have left after my purse is photos and new knowledge about the Roberta Camerino brand.
Here are more information about this interesting personality and its brand:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuliana_Camerino
https://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=giuliana-coen-camerino&pid=142680542
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/fashion/17camerino.html
* I originally posted this text on Uptrennd
