Italian artisans have been playing a major role in the Italian economy since ancient times. Even when Italy did not exist as a country, artisans living and working in the peninsula produced valuable handcrafted goods renowned among different populations. Architects, maestro artisans and craftsmen traveled from one royal court to the other to support the economic development of kingdoms and empires.
Nowadays, the Italian economic system strongly relies on the export of handcrafted goods, food and clothes. Not surprisingly, the recent pandemic has been dramatically affecting exports. Additionally, the cost of raw materials has increased making the survival of small, family-owned businesses difficult.
The U.S. and Italy have been cooperating on major economic issues, which makes the U.S one of Italy’s most important trade partners, with a two-way trade valued in 2019 at more than $103 billion. Being the export to the U.S. such a crucial component of the Italian economy, The Italian Language Foundation applauds and thanks every family and business that brings handcrafted goods from Italy to the U.S. Today, ILF is happy to introduce you to the story of the Gravely family and their company, VIETRI.
Back in 1983, a mother and her two daughters took a trip to Italy and fell in love with the country, its culture and its manufacturer tradition. While visiting Positano, Susan, Frances and Lee Gravely, their mother, were served lunch on a stunning handcrafted ceramic plate. The three women were so charmed by the design, the pattern and the colors that they decided to visit the factory located in the town of Vietri sul Mare on the very next day.
They discovered magnificent handcrafted dinnerware made by local artisans, which combined living and authentic tradition, great practicality and handcrafted quality. Today, VIETRI is the largest US importer of exclusively imported and handcrafted in Italy ceramics. VIETRI’s style merges the Italian tradition and craftsmanship with the sophisticated and sober American spirit.
VIETRI’s collections are delicate, elegant and classy. VIETRI’s dinnerware celebrates the simple act of sharing a meal with loved ones in a serene atmosphere inspired by the Italian lifestyle. Each collection has its own style and features. Most importantly, VIETRI values and respects Italian artisans’ specific skills, which allows them to fully express their abilities and to thrive respecting their tradition, wisdom and unparalleled technical skills. Those of us who are fortunate to have discovered VIETRI can appreciate the beauty and quality of these Italian creations in our American homes.