Lost And Found In Pienza

The day I lost Sarah (and found a kimono)

Last May, on a road trip with Sarah and Lucia, we were wandering the streets of Pienza when I suddenly realised Sarah had disappeared.Retracing my steps, I found her in the middle of an intense conversation with Francesca at Made in Testaccio, completely absorbed in fabrics, lines, colours and stitches.

They were talking about the “problems” only makers share: the resistance of a certain fabric, the search for the perfect cut, how to let a drawing become a garment.

In a few minutes the shop turned into a tiny, improvised fashion show, with Sarah trying on these one‑of‑a‑kind kimonos, surrounded by hand‑painted bags and jars of colour waiting to become something new, and me doing the only thing I could do: taking out my camera and watching the scene unfold.

What started as “where did Sarah go?” became one of those serendipitous encounters that stay with you: a small shop in Val d’Orcia, slow fashion, recycled fabrics, clothes that carry previous lives and new stories. 

As a photographer, these are the moments and the people I love to champion: sustainable craft, imperfect beauty, and the joy of meeting someone who creates with both hands and heart. Sometimes getting lost is just how you find the right people and the right place!