The Biblioteca Riccardiana celebrates Made in Italy Day, on 15 April 2026, with an exhibition dedicated to one of the key sectors of Italy’s creative heritage: fashion.
Among the Library’s collections is the Chiostri Archive, donated in 2012 by Paolo Sacchi of the antiquarian bookshop L’Ippogrifo.
The Sorelle Chiostri dressmaking atelier, founded in Florence in 1915, continued its activity—through various ups and downs—until 2009. It represents nearly a century of local history, with significant connections to both Italian and international fashion houses. Established as a family-run workshop, like many ateliers of the time it initially drew inspiration from leading French couturiers before developing its own independent and original style. A testament to Italian craftsmanship, the Chiostri atelier combined talent and ambition to embody style, high-quality artisanal work, and meticulous attention to detail and materials.
The archive contains over 12,000 items, including mainly pencil sketches, watercolours, ink drawings, and fabric samples used for the garments, as well as black-and-white and colour photographs.
The archive provides an important record of the development of Italian fashion in the 20th century, with a particular focus on the city of Florence.
From 13 April to 12 June 2026, the exhibition is open to visitors free of charge during the Library’s opening hours:
- Monday and Thursday: 8:15 am – 5:15 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:15 am – 1:45 pm
