Scarpets, furlane, friulane. The name of this shoe – of humble origins and transformed into a must-have over recent years – encapsulates its history.
Friulane shoes originated in the 19th century in the countryside of Friuli and nearby Carnia. These “scarpets” (a Friuli dialect word meaning slippers) were stitched by women, often using scrap materials: old bicycle tyres for the rubber sole, pieces of felt and cotton or discarded hemp and jute sacks for the insole, while the upper was made from fabric remnants. All stitched strictly by hand. Following the First World War, these “scarpets” found their way to Venice, where they became known as “furlane”, Venetian dialect for friulane, meaning from Friuli. They were bought by gondoliers, who appreciated them because they were non-slip and didn’t damage the painted surface of their boats. In the 1950s, the first stall selling them appeared near the Rialto Bridge. These fabric slippers, which in the meantime had been elevated and refined, were loved for their free-spirited, relaxed and bohemian style, and because they embodied an idea of Italian identity closely tied to Venice. Friulane shoes (now known by their Italian name) began to appear more frequently on the streets, conquering Milan and then the fashion world.
The story of the friulane slippers has much in common with the history of Billiani chairs, which have evolved from classic, traditional wooden chairs while still keeping their handcrafted essence. This is why Billiani has dedicated a special project to friulane slippers, created with Miez, one of the few friulane shoe companies in the sector that draws inspiration from the original technique developed in the late 19th-century.
The Billiani friulane slippers are crafted with Timènt, a collection of upholstery fabrics inspired by the Tagliamento river, designed by Cristina Celestino in 2020 and created in collaboration with historic woollen mill Torri Lana. Using Timènt on a product other than a chair is a way of reaffirming Billiani’s connection to Friuli, celebrate craftsmanship, and blend past and present in the name of design.
Photo by Michela Nale / Mattia Balsamini
Text by Lisa Cadamuro