Meet: Martina Pinto Bonomo

You graduated from BA Fashion Management at LCF in 2017. How did this shape your career?

I really appreciated the wide range of subjects that we were exposed to. Throughout the course we delved into the multifaceted aspects of managing a business, and the challenges presented in our coursework gave me the right skills. The more the merrier! When I started building my own business, I realised that understanding the various aspects of my practice was crucial - even those you might not particularly enjoy - and being well-rounded in your knowledge base provides you with a significant head start.

Tell us more about yourself/your background…

I’m a 27-year-old born in London and bred in Jakarta, Brussels, Milan and Rome, though my roots trace back to Puglia.

Aside from my studies in Fashion Management at LCF, I had the privilege of working in communication for Cabana Magazine, Les Petits Joueurs, LVMH and Missoni. However, the most purposeful chapter of my story began 2 years ago when I co-founded CICILEU. We use business as a force of good; we’re on a mission to save craftsmanship and empower artisans, starting from Puglia. I now dedicate myself entirely to CICILEU as Creative Director (but to be completely honest, given the nature a start-up, also as everything in between). I also work as a social image consultant. Work life aside, I have been married since June 2022 and we now have four month old twins! We’ve recently embarked on another adventure: due to my husband’s job we now live in Pakistan and my goal is to be able to explore and expand CICILEU’s mission here as well.

What inspired CICILEU?

I've been fortunate enough to spend all my summers in Puglia, Southern Italy, an Italian region with many unique artisanal creations. I grew up hopping from one artisan to another and as the years went by, my enchantment for craftsmanship deepened. I found myself wanting to learn from the artisans, but their response was always the same: "Why bother? Our own children aren’t interested, it’s all going to disappear."

This got me thinking: if learning how to weave a single basket wouldn't make a significant impact, I needed to find a way that could. So, I joined forces with my brother and mother. By combining our skills for a common purpose, we embarked on a mission to play our part in preserving human legacy. We set up a website (https://www.cicileu.co/) and an Instagram page (@ci.ci.leu),  and we now have our own shop inside the Palazzo Daniele hotel.

Not only do we curate and create collections for our brand; we also bring custom projects to life, turning clients' dreams into reality while allowing artisans to breathe new life and ideas into their ancient artistry. Our goal is to inspire a new generation of craftspeople, allowing them to thrive in today's environment. Simultaneously, we aim to foster a growing community of individuals who value the slow pace of tradition, the essence of handmade pieces, and the importance of sustaining generations of excellence.

The increasing difficulty in scouting craftspeople. It often feels as though I'm racing against time: some have passed away, while others have abandoned their passion for their craft due to dwindling interest and a shrinking market. Convincing younger artisans not to abandon their family's heritage is a real struggle, as they often don't see a bright future or viable opportunities in it. That's exactly why we believe our mission is so crucial. It’s even more important for consumers to choose handmade products over mass-produced items. By opting for one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story, you're actively contributing to the preservation and evolution of craftsmanship, ensuring it doesn't fade away.

What projects are you currently working on?

I'm currently focused on expanding our network of craftspeople, both in Puglia and in Pakistan. The aim is to establish meaningful relationships, where both the artisans and their crafts experience a positive upturn. We want to ensure that the next generations see a dependable path to preserve their family's legacy and build a prosperous future rooted in their heritage.

Now that I'm based in Pakistan, I am working towards identifying the most effective ways to support Pakistani makers. Given the vastness of the country, language barriers, and differences in culture, it's not the simplest of tasks. Hopefully my determination and passion will prevail over the challenges, and we’ll be able to continue shining light on the valuable treasure that is tradition. If people wholeheartedly embrace our mission, fall in love with crafts, and actively help us in spreading the word as far and as wide as possible, I truly believe we can have a tangible impact.