The fabulous world of Lisa Corti
Inspired by the richness of colour and travel, Lisa Corti has been creating mesmeric textiles for over four decades
Inspired by her life-long love of European, Asian and African, Lisa Corti has a worldly approach to textile design. She was born in Eritrea, lived in Ethiopia, and has travelled across India.
In the 1980s she created a small clothing collection that focused on kaftans. Eventually it expanded to homeware textiles such as plush cushions, bright throws and statement tablecloths that incorporate her passion for colour with luxe materials such as silk, muslin and cotton.
Where does your inspiration for prints come
from? I take my inspiration from many things: Indian paintings, miniatures, to the Italian Renaissance period. I also glean from film, fashion and photography.
You work with communities in India to bring your designs to life. Why was that important
to you? Deciding to work in India was for me was a lifestyle choice. The richness of this country, culture, craftsmanship, architecture, art, beauty and the variety of its regions have been and are still for me an unlimited source of ideas and creativity. Moreover, I love people, and the essence of religion and spirituality that you can breathe everywhere you go. In Madhya Pradesh, central India, for example, I have developed a workshop that is working only for me.
What do you love most about creating textiles? I was born in Asmara, Eritrea and lived in Ethiopia until I was 19. I remember the beauty of the African people, the ancient decorative tradition and the women’s brightly-coloured costumes. These memories are my cultural background, the roots underlying my stylistic and creative choices and that’s why I love creating textiles. With my first trip to India in 1976 with my daughter Ida, I discovered an incredibly diverse, rich place, finding an affinity with the Eastern world, especially in the field of textiles, ornaments and colours.
How do Lisa Corti creations stand out from
the rest? I do not follow trends, but my sense of colour, light and form, is a consistent balance between ancient cultures and Western contemporaneity. This is how I would define my style: unique, highly personal and timeless.
What's been your proudest moment of your career? I started working and showing my creations in my home more than 30 years ago and now my products are exported all over the world and sold by leading stores in Europe and United States, at my Emporium in Milan and franchised shops in Florence, Rome and Turkey. I’m proud of my path and I think that the most beautiful challenge and satisfaction is what awaits us in the future: what I have built up till today must be consolidated and many new challenges wait around the corner to be confronted.
What are you working on at the moment?
With my team we create two collections every year, not only for the home but also for ready-to-wear and accessories. In 2019 we also presented our first resort collection. We are always working on new designs.
Do you have a formula for decorating a room?
Home for me is a place where we should feel in harmony and feel good – a place that should be light and poetic, where we are surrounded by the things we love. No matter the size of a space, the important thing is that it says something and is always ready to welcome us.
Who do you turn to for advice? My daughter Ida. During my first trip to India in 1976 with her, together we discovered an incredibly diverse, rich world. She grew up and took her path, but more than 10 years ago she decided to work with me.
When was the last time you felt truly inspired? Travelling is the basis of my creative adventure and my inspiration. I love travelling – especially going back to places where I have already been. My best memories are related to trips to India, because I’m interested in everything about that country. It is a bottomless pit of wonder, paintings, sculptures and architecture, in addition to the incredible world of crafts.
Describe the view from your window today?
I live in Milan in the Porta Venezia district, a multi-ethnic and deeply Milanese neighbourhood that I love very much. From the window of the living room I can see the recently renovated church of San Carlo, which is what remains of the centre of the Lazzaretto in Milan that is much talked about in the Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed), by Alessandro Manzoni, the one where Renzo finally finds Lucia. Lisa Corti is available on MatchesFashion.com