Interview with Anita Vittur, stylist, seamstress who creates traditional costumes, ski instructor and free spirit

Anita Vittur's creativity perfectly embodies the versatility of Alta Badia. She is a stylist and seamstress who creates traditional costumes, but also a ski instructor and, above all, a free spirit: creative and precise, inquisitive and multifaceted, connected to nature and at the same time experimental and artistic. Her passion for art, materials, fabrics and colours emerged when she was very young and has developed through studying and putting it into practice, establishing an innate sense of design and style. For ten years, Anita Vittur has been running her own fashion line and creating traditional costumes while with LÜM, she has even captured the very essence of the Dolomites in a perfume. In addition, because she loves physical activity as much as creativity, she also teaches skiing.

She grew up, as she herself says “in the heart of the Dolomites.” The colours, sounds and scents of this striking and genuine nature have forever shaped her connection to the area. She says “I believe it is our mission to protect the mountains and teach others to respect nature.”

Today, she lives in San Cassiano with her husband Davide and their two daughters, Maya and Denise. She and her husband share a deep love of freedom, and her words reveal a passion for the culture and nature of Alta Badia, as well as an enthusiasm for craftsmanship and creativity.

Anita, tell us a little about yourself: who is Anita Vittur?

I was born in San Cassiano and raised in the heart of the Dolomites. Perhaps my passion for art blossomed as early as my art high school in Cortina. I've always been a curious person, drawn to many different things, but fabrics have particularly fascinated me: touching them, working with colours and expressing myself through my hands.

Beyond art, nature has played a fundamental role in my development. Since I was a child, I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors; almost every weekend I was in the mountains with my family, and that bond is still an essential part of me today. Those who grow up here need to feel this profound love for nature, otherwise living in the Dolomites becomes difficult. We are surrounded by immense mountains and nature that is incredibly powerful: we must learn to feel part of it, to find our place within it.

What makes your pulse race? What has influenced you the most?

For me, freedom is everything. As a child, I hated following the ski instructor in line: I never accepted or tolerated doing what others told me to do. So as a teenager, along with other kids, I discovered snowboarding. It gave me a feeling of pure joy and freedom, a feeling that still accompanies me today, in life and work. During my four years of studies in Verona, I would return home on winter weekends to take part in snowboarding competitions. As a ski instructor, that feeling of freedom is something I still try to convey today.

How did you get into fashion?

I owe a lot to my extraordinary teacher Meme Kostner, who instilled a love of art in us, together with the balance between nature and beauty, and between colours and fabrics.

I remember a project with an art school in Riccione in which we created fabrics using a number of various techniques. I painted on silk, others wove or printed, and the students from the other school created a collection with those materials and presented it in a fashion show. That's when I realized this was my path. After graduating, I studied tailoring and fashion design in Verona, where I learned both classic tailoring techniques and those used in industrial production. I still draw on both today, as and when I need to.

What do you feel when you touch a fabric?

We don't realize how much different textures affect our mood. If a fabric clings uncomfortably to your skin, your mood also suffers. We worked a lot on this during our studies: we wove the materials ourselves, feeling their texture, sometimes rough, but always natural. Silk, on the other hand, is soft and slippery, completely different.

If the materials aren't combined properly, an item of clothing can convey a feeling of disharmony. People with a strong aesthetic sense, like me, are constantly looking for balance and perfection, even unconsciously. I always have to touch the fabrics: it's an instinctive gesture.

How did you get into traditional tailoring?

I'd say it was more our traditional clothing, the trachten, that found me. I was almost at the end of my studies when the Colfosco/Corvara marching band asked me to make their uniforms. Shortly after, in 1999, I opened my own atelier, and from there traditional tailoring was a natural progression.

I did  a lot of research, took some advanced courses and learned a lot from the older seamstresses. I also contacted the “Lebendige Tracht” association in Bolzano to make sure I respected the rules and traditions.

Tracht is much more than just clothing, it is culture, history and identity, and each valley has its own. The materials used—blue or red linen, wool or cotton—and the colours inspired by nature reflect the region. Over time, each costume became increasingly sophisticated, until it has become the celebratory costume we know today.

The Val Badia costume is simpler than that of Castelrotto or Val Gardena, but it has its own elegance. I have made costumes for the marching bands of La Villa, San Vigilio, Corvara, Welschellen and Castelrotto, and I have dressed a lot of people in my tracht. Even young people today enjoy wearing these costumes because they make them feel good.

How long does it take to make a complete woman's outfit?

A women's tracht dress, including blouse and jacket, takes between 60 and 70 hours of work, all done by hand. It requires technique, experience and a lot of patience and it's not just the work of the seamstress: numerous artisans are involved in the creation. There are those who weave the linen, those who crochet or make bobbin lace, those who forge the bodice hooks as well as those who sew the shoes or create the hat. Each contributes their own artistry, bringing the dress to life.

How does tracht influence your designs?

I work almost exclusively with natural fibres, just like tracht. I like contrasts: linen, wool, silk, silver or gold details. Then, meticulous attention to detail is also reflected in my garments: everything must follow a logical and harmonious thread.

My love for tradition shines through, for example, in my skirts: the Gana skirt can be worn in a sporty style with sneakers or more elegantly with an apron, reminiscent of a simple yet refined dirndl.

The names of my garments are always connected to Ladin culture: Gana refers to the “Ganes,” the good fairies of the forest, and their dancing freely in nature is a symbol of the freedom I love so much.

One jacket is called Giulan, which means “thank you” and it expresses gratitude towards life, nature and the landscape.

I am more than happy to wear my own creations: I'm allergic to anything that isn't natural fibre. Ten years ago, I dreamed of a wardrobe composed entirely of my own clothes, and today that dream has come true. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel free.

One last tip: what is absolutely not to be missed in Alta Badia?

Without a doubt, the Inrosadöra, the alpenglow of the Dolomites. Admiring it at sunrise or sunset, breathing in that energy and those unique colours is an unforgettable experience. Plus, anyone who loves culture and tradition shouldn't miss a traditional costume parade: looking closely at the details, the embroidery and the fabrics is truly magical.

And of course to finish, a glass of Gewürztraminer is always a great idea.