INTERVIEW: MEET LUDOVICA MARTIRE
This season Tatu Couture has joined forces with luxury leatherwear brand Ludovica Martire - Made in Pain to create a limited-edition capsule collection. Having worked together on creative styling for number of campaign shoots, joining forces for SS22 seemed the natural progression and the perfect marriage of equals when it comes to design aesthetics and artisanal values. Both brands share the same creative vision for fashion forward, luxury erotic design.
ABOVE | Tatu Couture x Ludovica Martire Made in Pain Playsuit | Image source @Marc Evans Photography
Tatu Couture founder Luisa Sidoli talks to Creator Director Ludovica Martire about her creative process and her inspiration behind her eponymous brand.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
My father is Italian and my mother from Colombia, l was born in Rome, where l have spent most of my life.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR OWN BRAND?
My background is in haute couture fashion, l have a degree in fashion and technical pattern cutting. I started out work initially as a shoe designer, then as an embroidery maker for a brand that specialized in bags. It was here that l discovered the art of leather crafting. This is where l found my true passion and creative expression. Originally it started out as a hobby, I was making pieces on request for friends, then one of them, Petrana Colesanti decided she wanted to invest in a brand together and the rest is history!
WHERE DID THE BRAND NAME ORIGINATE?
The sub title of the Brand “Made In Pain” comes from the fuel for my creativity which derives from my personal suffering, my pain both in life and in work. Nothing comes easy for me, I have the traits of the classic Scorpio: a twist of passion, love, hate, vengeance, maniacal precision, obsessions. Sometimes I am my worst enemy!
WHO IS YOUR STYLE INSPIRATION?
Dita Von Teese without hesitation. I have followed her since the beginning, her style is exactly that mix of fetish and glamour that I have always loved. I was honoured to collaborate with her this year on her Glamonatrix Show Tour, making the masks and accessories for her dancers.
I am lucky that my work has given me the opportunity to meet other amazing women, like Lady Jane and Miss Jolie Papillon. They have become dear friends of mine and they are my constant muses, they give me wonderful ideas.
ABOVE | Miss Jolie Papillon wearing Krystal Limited Edition Collection worn with Calypso Satin Choker, Belt and cuffs from Ludovica Martire | Image source @ Atomic Tangerine
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
I take my inspiration from the inner world and my personal emotions. Since l was a child l have always had a big imagination. I used to spend hours just creating ideas in my mind, fantasy stories, full of weird creatures and beautiful warrior women. I read everything from mythology, magic, esotericism, horror to fantasy novels. These are still my passion and same goes for movies. Somehow everything l love creates a sort of universe that is just waiting to be explored. I am also lucky that my parents were deep lovers of art and beauty in every form, it installed in me a very deep sense of aesthetics in everything I do.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FASHION STYLE?
I would say it's a combination of light and darkness at same time. I love to mix elements of BDSM with very feminine details, trying to express the sexual power and freedom of women, to connect them with their inner goddess. We are all goddesses as we have the power to create or destroy life from the moment we are born, we are the closest thing to Mother Nature. I just want whoever wears my pieces, be it a women or a men, to remember the feeling of power that it gives them.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM YOUR COLLECTION?
I don’t have a particular favourite, they are all like sons to me. How could l love one more than another?
I would say however, the piece that reflects my personal style the best is the Miss Jolie set in black. It is a set that combines a belt and choker that I created originally in blush pink leather with clear crystals for Miss Jolie Papillon, so it was made to be delicate, feminine and glamourous. I then made it in black for Lady Jane and it became a more powerful piece. 
ABOVE | Lady Jane wearing Xena High Neck Bra and Thong with Cleopatra Guepiere from Ludovica Martire | Image source @ Igor Gentili