Dolce Smeg: An Inspired Canvas
by Joanne Granata
TORONTO – “Made in Italy”, the stamp of the highest quality, and globally sought-after mark of the finest craftsmanship is something we as consumers look for on our clothing labels, our shoes, our fashion accessories, etc., and is readily associated with top brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Smeg … Smeg?
Smeg, short for Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla, or the “Guastalla Emilia Enamel Works”, was founded in Guastalla, a town near Reggio Emilia in northern Italy by Vittorio Bertazzoni. Beginning as skilled blacksmiths, the Bertazzoni family built their legacy as an ever-present and ever-innovative appliance company in the 19th century. Run by third generation Bertazzoni entrepreneurs today, Smeg continually develops and designs new products, and continues to collaborate with internationally renowned architects and designers. Today, in truly Italian style, technology, design, skilled trades, and fashion come together in the partnership of Smeg and Dolce & Gabbana to create a truly exceptional line of small kitchen appliances inspired by Sicily and its traditions.
The Sicily My Love product line uses Smeg’s small kitchen appliances such as toasters, blenders, and espresso makers as a canvas for the vibrant and evocative hues and aesthetics of Sicily. The canvases are adorned with the colours of typical Sicilian produce such as the bright orange of Sicilian oranges, lively yellows of Sicilian lemons, deep reds and violets of cactus pears, as well as iconic Sicilian landscapes such as the haunting beauty of Mount Etna, floral motifs, and the bottle green acanthus leaves typical of the Ancient Greek and Roman architecture found throughout the enchanting island, once the “granary of the [Roman] empire”. The collection is truly stunning, exquisite in its simplicity, expertly crafted, and, appropriately, each piece is truly unique, each (hand-painted) appliance boasting a distinctive design, and finished with the hallmark “Made in Italy” emblem.
Although the strong values of the “Made in Italy” brand – passion, superior craftsmanship, profound creativity – bring together the seemingly disparate partners of Dolce & Gabbana and Smeg, both brands’ deep respect for and value of family tradition and the maintenance of local roots continues to spur on this collaboration, which began last year when the two created a limited collection of 100 FAB28 Smeg refrigerators, designed with distinctive elements of the marionette theatre and the Sicilian cart, both important aspects of Sicilian culture and traditions.
Two Italian beauties: Bellucci and Balti for D&G
Quintessentially Italian in how it brings together so many different elements of culture to what is, perhaps, the quintessential room in the Italian household, the kitchen, where culture is often created, shared, and conferred, the stunning new appliances of the Sicily My Love product line showcased at the 56th edition of the Salone del Mobile, the Milan Design Fair [4-9 April, 2017] and are expected to arrive by the end of the year, just in time for Christmas. Prices are yet to be announced, but, before contemplating a purchase, keep in mind that a FAB28 refrigerator was reportedly sold for £30,000.
Price tag aside, these appliances are true works of art rendering culture, history, and elegance all in a small package too beautiful to wrap.
The Yellow Gloves 