Ffern x Casa Italiana
For Summer 24, we turned to Italy. While musing on our theme, with the help of director and photographer Elena Heatherwick, we encountered one of London’s best kept secrets, to be found at 136 Clerkenwell Road.
Summer 24 • Casa Italiana
Casa Italiana San Vincenzo Pallotti - known to its members as ‘The Club’ - is a historic Italian social club that has been a cornerstone of London’s Italian community since its establishment in 1960.
Over the decades, the club has provided a welcoming space for socialising, fostering a strong sense of community, and offering support to Italian families and individuals far from their homeland. Through family events, cultural celebrations, and weekly social gatherings, Casa Italiana has become more than just a club - it is a cherished institution that strengthens communal bonds and enriches the multicultural tapestry of London.
Casa Italiana is sadly in need of major funding in order to maintain its historic building and support its diverse range of cultural and social events. In 2024, we collaborated with Casa Italiana on a prize draw in the hope that its doors can remain open for many more years to come.
We began the fundraising with a donation of £5,000 and the club has raised over £15,000.
We have been incredibly fortunate that The Club has welcomed us into their world with immense generosity and joy - and helped us to make this film in celebration of their Tuesday lunch club.
Watch the Film
Photography by Elena Heatherwick for Ffern.
The Fragrance
Summer 24 captures a high blue day. Golden light on the afternoon hills. A meadow filled with wild herbs and citrus trees, deep in the valley. The scent is champagne and fruit and spices and hot earth - made from a blend of red champaca, sweet fennel seeds, blood orange and bay.