As children, in the evening my brother and I used to help dad in the company: I was about 9 years old and, after playing, I worked about two hours a day with him. Then, after I failed my exams at high school, my dad told me “tomorrow you’re doing eight hours in the firm”. That summer I worked 40 hours a week, and I learned how to follow and run production.

In the early 1900s, Florence was famous for straw hats .The lady’s hat was adorned with flowers in summer and feather trimmings in winter. At home, many women made silk flowers to attach to the hats. My grandmother was very good at assembling them and started her own business with help from my uncle.

It was the 30s, my grandmother made flowers for summer hats and, to create them, she needed metal stamps that my grandfather, who was a turner, created in the night, after his work. He helped her preparing the flowers. I have been told that they were very beautiful together, but I never knew them: she unfortunately died young, in the 1960s.

After a two-year experience in the US, I returned to the company. I like to work with my hands, I like the manipulation of the object. I like to wear an apron with dirty hands at work, even if I have to manage administrative part, too. And I’m very busy teaching all over the world. But deep down, I’m still the child who loves to play with the feathers.