Episode 08: Le Costantine

      There is a small village at the edge of the world through which, inevitably, the world passes. It is the village of Casamassella, a hamlet of the municipality of Uggiano la Chiesa, located 3 km from Otranto and 40 km from Lecce, known as the “Village of the Weavers.”

      Here, Cristina manages and oversees “Le Costantine,” a foundation that has successfully systematized the art of weaving and embroidery through the use of ancient looms.

      The result is both surprising and contemporary: handcrafted products, made entirely by hand, ranging from home décor to linens to fashion pieces, all inspired by the colors of the Apulian landscape—the green of the olive tree, the yellow of wheat, the blue of the sky and the sea.

      Today, hundreds of tourists visit “Le Costantine” each year, which has also become a point of reference for designers and collectors from around the world. In addition, its creations are exported as far as Japan and were featured in a Dior fashion show held in the city of Lecce.

      However, the story of “Le Costantine” is not merely the story of a product; it is a story of culture and respect, rooted in the early 1900s, when two noblewomen—feminists ahead of their time—generously and foresightedly founded an institution to enable local women to gain independence and express their talent through weaving. It is a mission and a legacy that Cristina has never betrayed and continues to nurture, together with her collaborators, through training initiatives dedicated to women, through programs aimed at reducing school dropout rates and integrating immigrant youth, and through participation in reforestation and biodynamic agriculture projects in the Salento region.

      Therefore, those who visit “Le Costantine” can perceive a thread that connects the past to the present and projects the present toward a hopeful future. Meanwhile, those who purchase from the foundation, realize they have not simply bought products, but have received emotions imbued with meaning—meaning that goes beyond the fabric itself, which one has the incredible opportunity to witness being created, step by step, on an ancient loom.

      Mani Nobili is an original series hosted by Mesciu Gigi that invites viewers into conversations with artisans of the highest order, craftsmen dedicated entirely to their craft. This series is an invitation to enter the sacred spaces of Italian craftsmanship where human led design, guided by tradition, functionality, and intention give form to beauty.

      Through the eyes of our President, Nicolas Segura, and the voice of our General Manager of Italy, Luca Giusto, we traverse the storied region of Apulia to meet the master artisans whose work sustains the soul of a true Made in Italy. From tailoring to sculpture, from ceramics to woodwork, each episode offers a glimpse into a world where technique is inherited and iterated upon, tradition is honored and enriched, and every gesture speaks of devotion and purpose.

      This series is more than a chronicle of fine workmanship; it is a celebration of vocation, of lives lived in pursuit of excellence, of heritage made tangible, of the subtle but profound harmony between mind, body, and soul that elevates an object by uniting it to a rich tapestry of craft dating back millennia.

      As alluded to previously, this inaugural season is dedicated to the artisans of the region of Apulia. Each month, we dedicate ourselves to one artisan. Monthly on the fifteenth, we unveil a new chapter in their story on our YouTube channel.

      We invite you to walk beside us in this ongoing journey, a journey not only into craft, but into the heart of what it means to create with purpose.

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