Red Coral in Naples

Isaia has been working for the last five months on a new photo project called “The Making Of.” As the name suggests, the project documents the making of their SS13 collection, and the first installment to their five part series dropped yesterday. I think it covers the brand’s light and colorful spirit well, and the site is certainly worth checking back with for updates.

Their project reminded me of another photo series that I really like. This one covers the cultural significance of red coral in Naples. The systematic fishing and working of coral in Italy actually began in Trapani (Sicily), where master craftsmen specialized in inserting small pieces of red coral into decorative gold objects. This art was treasured by the local Jews who, once forced to flee, took their knowledge and craft to wherever they settled. This is why the “capital of coral” has often moved with the rise and fall of Trapani, Genoa, Livorno and Marseille.

In Naples, it’s believed that red coral sprang from mythical origins. As the legend goes, the Greek hero Perseus killed the Gorgon Medusa and wanted to deliver her head as a wedding present to the King of Seriphos, who was about to wed his mother. On his way home, he saw the beautiful Andomeda chained to a rock and about to be eaten by a sea monster. Wanting to save her life, he killed the beast and then sat on the bank of the water to wash his hands. When he set the sack with Medusa’s head besides him, her blood dripped into the water and transformed into what we know as red coral. For this, Neapolitans consider red coral a sign of good luck, and they use it in everything from pendants to religious ornaments to jewelry. (And, as you know, Isaia uses it as their logo).

Click through the cut below to see some of the photos. The tradition of red coral in Naples is really quite beautiful.