On May 8th at 5:00 PM, the MUNAV Naval History Museum hosted a fashion event that wove together art and social responsibility.
Banco Lotto N.10 unveiled its latest collection, all Made in Venice, a compelling story of creativity, artisanal excellence, renewal, and second chances. What was once the “Granary” of the Serenissima was transformed into a runway, with the ancient vessels of the Venetian Republic serving as a backdrop.
Carolina Valmarana, a longtime supporter of the atelier, was the godmother of the event. The guest of honor, Thierry Morel, a respected curator and cultural historian, presented a reflection on “Beauty and Passion.” This theme, in harmony with the core mission of Banco Lotto N.10, demonstrated how aesthetic excellence can spark personal reinvention and collective empowerment.
Born in the Female Correctional Facility of Giudecca, Banco Lotto N.10 operates within the framework of the Italian Penitentiary Reform Program. By applying the principles of restorative justice, the Sartoria (tailoring workshop) offers professional training in tailoring to incarcerated women, guided by internationally renowned costume and fashion designers. Many participants have acquired marketable skills, enabling a path to reintegration beyond detention.
The initiative is led by the Cooperativa Il Cerchio, a key player in the Venetian social entrepreneurship landscape. Under the strategic guidance of Councillor Adriano Toniolo, along with Margherita Uliana and Riccardo Tomasella, the workshop has grown into a thriving example of how creativity and social commitment can work together. To date, many women have benefited from the training, and new participants have been drawn by the Sartoria’s expanding public profile.
Banco Lotto N.10 has recently presented its collections in San Servolo, at the San Marco headquarters of the Compagnia della Vela, and at the Casa delle Storie Navigli 21 in Milan. Each venue has opened new opportunities for the women’s creations, generating collaborations with prestigious cultural institutions like Palazzo Grassi, the Borghese Gallery, and well-known theaters in Vienna. Meanwhile, generous donations from textile companies like FIDIVI ensure that every garment is made with the highest quality, mostly recycled, materials.
© credit foto: Matteo Rioda
For local supporters and visitors who wish to see or purchase these distinctive pieces, the Banco Lotto N.10 shop in Rio Terà Sant’Aponal near Rialto, as well as the online store, remain open for purchases. Every sale directly supports training programs, materials, and educational initiatives that provide women with valuable professional and personal skills.
In an era of fast consumption, Banco Lotto N.10 distinguishes itself by offering fashion stitched with a purpose and designed to last well beyond the runway.
The evening concluded with a reception graciously offered by the SAN GIORGIO CAFÉ, reflecting the warmth and hospitality that define Venetian culture.
Ilaria D’Uva, CEO of D’UVA S.r.l., the service company that manages both the San Giorgio Café and the MUNAV, stated: “We are proud to host, in the history-rich spaces of the Naval Pavilion of the Venice Naval History Museum, an event that unites fashion, art, and social commitment. This place, once the operational heart of the Arsenal and now the guardian of the Serenissima’s maritime memory, represents for us the perfect symbol of how the past can have a lively and meaningful dialogue with the present. For us at D’Uva and San Giorgio Café, promoting initiatives like this—which center human value, creativity, and the possibility of redemption—is a natural and coherent choice with our vision of culture as a tool for inclusion, solidarity, and transformation, which was immediately supported by the Italian Navy, the owner of the spaces, and by Difesa Servizi, the company promoting the cultural enhancement of the Museum.”