Cicciabella

Reports From The Field

Asia September 2011

This is Adria’s first trip to Shanghai alone. She is so busy she doesn’t take time to be afraid except for right before she boards the plane. She knows the excitement will take over shortly.

The language is not so much a barrier on this trip. Adria is adapting well.

The streets are always bustling with noise and people. On this trip she goes out on her own. She spends much time walking the streets and learning more about the culture.

This time she is whisked away to amazing little towns. One is an old Chinese ocean town. Simply amazing. She can’t help but be inspired for years to come.

She returns home and remembers her trip with a fond feeling of her other home. She looks forward to her trip in March 2012. She is also in desperate need of some authentic Asian Cuisine!

Asia February 2011

So now it’s time for Adria’s very first trip to Shanghai. She’s as nervous as she can be but her excitement clearly takes over.

The first stop on this trip is the extensive fabric markets. More fabric than one could ever imagine of all textures and colors. Beauty in all directions – so much to take in.

Then it’s the accessories markets. More buttons, ribbons, beads and beautiful things than before.

Adria notices the difference between Chinese and Western cultures more than ever. She admires the artwork in everything they do. She’s impressed with the Asian culture and its beauty.

When last we left off, dear reader, Ms Cindy was on her way to Asia… presumably to work on her Spring Collection. As it turned out, she no sooner got off the plane when…SWOOP!//// she was Shanghai-ed!. Blindfolded and in desperate need of fun fabric she was taken by a very small mule… I believe she referred to it as a “Muleeta”, to an undisclosed location high in the mountains. There , her blindfold removed, she stood before 4 very old wise women….( all artists , of course)

Ms Cindy was convinced to go under their spell for…..be it not known at the time…a long while that she should experience the world as revealed to slipper designers only! (we know this through an e-mail communiqué)

Good Goddess!.... It was further revealed that the first wise woman sought a compañero named Juan to teach Ms C . the CHA CHA. When they were dancing, Cindy was fixated on Juan’s shirt as it was covered with colorful DOTS. Colors swirled! Papayas and passionfruit danced in her eyes! They Calypso’ed into the wee hours and Ms C .was in the moment! We received an e-mail from a very “dottie” gal. SHE GOT THE DOTS… and the CHA CHA!... in pure CicciaBella style, we’re sure!

Now back to the adventure with the mule (eeta)….A very old woman from the West took Ms Cindy aside and explained the difference between slipper boots and MULEETAS.…the latter being a “wisp” of those wild west COWGIRL RIDERS®. These fabulously crafted and embroidered slippers, perfect for summertime entertaining, hit a very high note!! !TA DAH!! Fashionable Wild Women of the West must have em’ … that’s all there is to it!

Having Cha Cha Dots & Muleetas in hand Ms C. set out for the market whereby a third wise woman appeared in a fabulous flowered fabric and beckoned Cindy to dream with her of soft summers, waterfalls and a land of perfumed flowers. Ms C. took her dream of an ISLANDER and fashioned silken thongs in hibiscus and ocean blues. Slippers in hand ,Cindy caught the next cloud back to Singapore. It was here she observed the ladies wearing woven “foot mats” with sophisticated ribbons ! Oh-hhh”, she thought, “I must fashion a sling!...a SINGAPORE SLING”…in the finest brocade available. I shall weave a cornhusk mat and attach a fine brocade ribbon thong!”

…About that 4th old wise woman…she had the best posture, and brightest smile of all. She granted Ms C a wish. Our girl, Cindy was so tired of walking, traveling and dancing that she asked the wise woman to please help her tired feet! The old woman talked in a soothing voice about special foot PODS molded to support her feet…”It’s all about ergonomics”, she whispered. Ms C. asked her permission to “walk in her shoes”….so to speak… her feet were delighted and relieved . Ms C was PODIFIED! We received an e-mail recently that she was on her way home with CHA CHA DOTS, MULEETAS, ISLANDERS, SINGAPORE SLINGS & CICCIAPODS. We can only imagine but will be glad to have her back!