FEATURE
Laced with
Love and Lore
The island of Burano serves as a great source of inspiration for fashion designers and students
the world over for its tradition of handmade lace. Brinda Gill documents.
“It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at
once solid and liquid, at once air and stone,”
wrote novelist Erica Jong of the wondrous island-
city of Venice in northern Italy. Venice instantly
casts a spell on the visitor with the expansive
St Mark’s Square fronting the multi-domed St
Mark’s Basilica surfaced with beautiful gilded
mosaics and the soaring bell tower; its many
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December 2019
paths winding past stores, heritage homes,
and churches; charming squares and bridges;
and gondolas ferrying visitors through canals.
As charming as the city is, the islands close to
Venice also offer interesting glimpses of heritage,
one such being Burano.
Burano has inspired artistes and designers for
years. Taking a boat from Venice (or a nearby