1) Camilla Bronzini, Francesca Neri Serneri, Antonella Perugini. I’d like to know something about your education. Was it to do with arts? If yes, were you supported or hindered in your choice of secondary school? In my day (I knew I would say this phrase sooner or later) if you told your parents that you were going to choose art school, they used to answer: “No way! It’s a school for slackers and junkies. Do accounting and you’ll get a steady job!”
1) Education to do with arts? I’m the one who got the closest: I attended “liceo classico” (a high school specializing in Greek and Latin TN) followed by Archeology at The University of Rome, Camilla studied Economics and Antonella majored in Psychology. However, we have always been keen on handwork and while we were at school we all attended goldsmithing courses and learned techniques for designing jewels - and by the way, yes, my parents were totally against art school.
2) Did you get a job in this field just after university or did you first do something totally different?
2) When I was still at school I got a job in photography and I spent hours working in the darkroom. Later on, at university, I felt the need to put my inspiration into practice so I started attending “Istituto di Arte Ornamentale di S. Giacomo” where I was taught techniques for planning and creating jewels. The courses took place from 6 to 9 pm and attending them regularly required true love and sacrifice.
3) Did your passion start when you were little girls or later? Was there an event that unleashed your inner sparkle and made you think: “this is what I want to do”?
3) It happened really early: I got my love for DIY from my grandmother. She taught me how to use copper wires, buttons, ceramics, crochet hooks, knitting needles… just about everything, and to turn things into something precious and noble. I used to make my accessories myself.
4) Why do you do micromosaic and not another technique?
4) When I was studying the Minor Arts I discovered the technique of “mosaico minuto romano”, which is now totally lost and solely for the Vatican. This technique, together with others of Italian tradition, became the concept of Le Sibille, the creation of a Renaissance workshop where antique techniques are experimented and offered to people who are looking for dreams.
5) Did your parents support you? Did they help you find the right path in life and work, or did they try to stop you?
5) Each of them helped and supported us.
6) How did you meet? When and how did three people from different walks of life decide to share something so meaningful? Did you start as a trio? And above all….It is said that women aren’t good team workers and tend to argue; what’s your secret?
6) Camilla and I met at goldsmithing school, then Antonella and finally Elena, who had studied at Istituto Europeo di Design, joined in. Together we decided to create Le Sibille, a brilliant idea of Camilla’s and along the way… my dear it was so difficult! Eventually, Elena quit.
However, at that point our company began to take off, our work became smooth, we got our product right and became well-known worldwide! Our secret is mutual respect, esteem, complicity and above all enjoying ourselves together, turning every single project into a challenge and an adventure.
