Italy’s 20 regions all boast their own crafts. Campania’s tilework and ceramics. Tuscany’s leather. Friuli’s Venetian shoes. But what about the smaller towns and borghe?
Lake Como, shimmering in the heart of Lombardia’s Lake District, is known for silk. Silkwork is a centuries-old tradition, but unlike Tuscany’s rich leather goods markets or the rainbow world of Amalfitano ceramics, it’s a dying breed.
This is where Elizabetta comes in.
Here, Elizabetta charges Lago di Como’s mills and workshops with hand-designed, hand-crafted, and zero-waste silkwear.
When Elizabetta Perkins founded her namesake brand twenty years ago, digital shopping was not nearly as sophisticated as it is today. Elizabetta started with just one category: women’s scarves. Over the years it flourished to include mens scarves, ties, and ascots for all seasons, including lighter-weight modal wool for warmer weather.
While the offering of affordable luxury neckwear consists of the same slow production and hand craftsmanship, the Elizabetta of 2025 includes digitally printed designs that utilize every piece of the fabric and defines a brand-wide, core principle: sustainability.
“Fast fashion is a major industry-wide problem,” said Perkins. “We refuse to produce anything cheaply from sweatshops in Asia. We will not give up on the quality of silk, printing, or hemming just to cut costs. Synthetics and chemicals you see in fast fashion harm your skin and the environment, not to mention the people working on the garment itself. It’s going on your neck and you’re breathing it all day long. Clean materials are key."
Perkins also explained how a scarf, by its very nature, contributes to the brand’s zero-waste values.
“If you have a high-quality scarf, it will last forever,” she said. “It’s probably not being worn every day, but it will last you 20 years or more.”
Ethical materials are a must-have for Perkins. This is why she ensures that all items are crafted the traditional way: by hand in Como’s artisanal workshops, which have turned silk into works of art for generations.
“We’ve worked with the same artisans for decades,” continued Perkins. “When we design new collections and visit Como, we all go out to lunch and know about all of their kids and grandkids through the stories and photos they share with us. We’re a real family.”
Generational passion breathes through the silk, thanks to these families of craftsmen who treat production not as work but as a craft. While the average customer is 40-60 years old, Perkins’ background as an architectural interior designer and color specialist shades each bold pattern and youthful palette. Rich color and lakeside elegance print the hand-rolled silk foulards and scarves. Elegance is timeless, and timelessness is always in style. No one throws out an accessory that is a work of art.
Speaking of art, the culmination of Elizabetta’s elegance is in the Collector’s Art Scarves line. Celebrating Firenze Art Scarf, available as a foulard or neckerchief, is printed with a glimpse of old Florence from Ponte Vecchio. Il Duomo looms above the red terracotta-roof cityscape and is bordered by intricate fleur de lis—Florence’s iconic symbol. An homage to Florence’s heritage of Renaissance art history, the Celebrating Firenze Art Scarf is the first of many planned in the art collection. Up next for 2025 will be an homage to Sicilia which, like the Peninsula itself, has its own art narrative. You’ll just have to stay tuned to see.
While silk is Elizabetta’s signature material, the blends of ultra-thin modal wool and light cotton keep styles cool and wearable all year long. Diverse designs also ensure that any scarf can pair with various style aesthetics, outfits, and occasions. Perkins grew up in Rome, but today lives in rural Le Marche where she is surrounded by her main, versatile inspiration: nature.
“Italy has so many beautiful things, from the ancient world to Milano’s modern industrial designers. It all plays a role in our design homage to the country itself,” Perkins said. “But through all that, nature is one of my biggest influencers, inspired by the rich gardens and countryside I call home. It provides endless color and patterns that tell a story on every piece and shares a unique wearability that anyone can flaunt.”
Discover your piece of wearable art at elizabetta.net.
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