Our legend
Marble and Its History
In a distant age, deep within the earth’s core, a magical stone called Marble was born, shaped by nature’s passion and strength.
Its purity and splendor awaited discovery, hidden in the dark caverns of the mountains.
One day, a group of daring explorers roaming the Apuan Alps, their hearts filled with wonder, found this shimmering treasure.
They gently extracted blocks of Marble, setting them on their journey.
Marble traveled over seas and mountains, arriving in the hands of sculptors, architects, and artists from every corner of the world.
In ancient Greece, Marble transformed into majestic columns and divine statues, shining in sacred temples.
In Rome, Marble adorned grand imperial palaces and imposing amphitheaters, with the Colosseum as its greatest triumph.
During the Renaissance, Michelangelo turned it into timeless masterpieces like the David and the Pietà, freeing the hidden soul of the stone.
Its story continued to resound through magnificent Gothic cathedrals, such as the Florence Cathedral, and in modern architectural marvels.
For thousands of years, as a symbol of divine beauty, elegance, and wealth, it soon became the beating heart of floors, sculptures, and buildings around the world.
And so, the legend of Marble still lives on—a tale steeped in emotion, transformation, and revolution spanning millennia, inviting anyone to admire its eternal grace and heed its moving story.
APUA: The Legend Continues
Reaching the present day, a new chapter in the millennia-long story and journey of Marble begins.
A chapter that has never been written before, and we can call it APUA.
Marble, always the main character and bearer of antiquity, transformed over time into pieces of design and art that embody timeless beauty. Now, with APUA, it becomes an accessory.
APUA is born from the heart of the Apuan Alps: the marble quarries. As if by magic, the lines, the material, and the soul of each creation take shape right there.
The inspiration drawn from Greek art—with its powerful sculptures and architectural structures—combined with the intrinsic sacredness of ancient art, leads design to a natural geometric form, material in essence yet sinuous in character.
Every piece signed by APUA carries within it the essence of the Apuan Alps, the purity of Marble, and the artisanal mastery that transforms it into modern works of art.
It is a celebration of the eternal beauty of Marble, reinterpreted with contemporary sensibility.
APUA is not just a brand; it’s a philosophy, a way of living and viewing the world through the lens of beauty and evolution.
It bears witness to a millennia-old tradition that continues to live and evolve, inviting everyone to become part of its legend.
And so, the story of Marble and APUA continues to unfold day after day, uniting past and future in a dance of light and matter, of dreams and reality.
ALICE FERRARO
She was born in Emilia-Romagna among the castles of Matilda of Canossa, surrounded by the Apennines all the way to the Apuan Alps, alongside the excellence of the Motor Valley. She learned to love “beauty.” From a very young age, she developed a strong interest in Art and Fashion, which influenced her educational path starting in high school, leading her to Istituto Marangoni in Milan and to winning the Vogue Teen contest as best emerging designer.
This recognition was only the spark: shortly thereafter, she began a significant journey at Max Mara, where she refined her vision and gained professional growth and a deeper understanding of the delicate balance that elevates the giants of fashion.
She has always felt the need to tell a new story to the world—“something new” that could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the world of fashion as well.
This need to express and represent a new creative concept still unexplored in the fashion world led to APUA. A striking visit to the marble quarries of Carrara created turmoil in her thoughts, which only the first sketches could resolve and satisfy.
Three years of work, in-depth study of techniques and materials, and profound collaborations with experts in marble, leather goods, and gold. And finally, MATILDE, EVA, CLEOPATRA were born.
APUA is no longer just a dream, but rather rigor, necessity, craftsmanship, and a balance between beauty and functionality.
Alice is proud to be the designer and co-founder of APUA.
Nietzsche: “One must have chaos within oneself to give birth to a dancing star.”
ALICE FERRARO
She was born in Emilia-Romagna among the castles of Matilda of Canossa, surrounded by the Apennines all the way to the Apuan Alps, alongside the excellence of the Motor Valley. She learned to love “beauty.” From a very young age, she developed a strong interest in Art and Fashion, which influenced her educational path starting in high school, leading her to Istituto Marangoni in Milan and to winning the Vogue Teen contest as best emerging designer.
This recognition was only the spark: shortly thereafter, she began a significant journey at Max Mara, where she refined her vision and gained professional growth and a deeper understanding of the delicate balance that elevates the giants of fashion.
She has always felt the need to tell a new story to the world—“something new” that could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the world of fashion as well.
This need to express and represent a new creative concept still unexplored in the fashion world led to APUA. A striking visit to the marble quarries of Carrara created turmoil in her thoughts, which only the first sketches could resolve and satisfy.
Three years of work, in-depth study of techniques and materials, and profound collaborations with experts in marble, leather goods, and gold. And finally, MATILDE, EVA, CLEOPATRA were born.
APUA is no longer just a dream, but rather rigor, necessity,
craftsmanship, and a balance between beauty and functionality.
Alice is proud to be the designer and co-founder of APUA.
Nietzsche: “One must have chaos within oneself to give birth to a dancing star.”
ELENA TORNAGHI
She was born in Monza into a family of entrepreneurs and professionals. Even as a child, creating and selling were among her favorite forms of play and sources of inspiration. Setting up impromptu sales with her own creations and secretly adorning herself with her grandmother’s jewelry, she emulated and drew inspiration from her father—an entrepreneur in the antiques market—and her grandfather, a building contractor and jewelry store owner.
In her teenage years, classical studies made her fall in love with antiquity, literature, poetry, and art. Above all, they made her realize how deeply fascinated she was by the beauty the human mind can create, in every possible form.
At the same time, her desire for independence led her, from a very young age, to organize events in her hometown, establishing a small event planning company.
It was there, before even coming of age, that she understood she could combine her entrepreneurial background with her passion for creating beauty. At 21, she opened her own marketing agency with her partner, and five years later, through their agency, they met Alice.
Elena immediately fell in love with Alice’s creative vision, which encompassed all the references and passions that had nourished her life: art, culture, accessories, revolution, and beauty. Together, they are now writing a story entitled APUA.
Her role at APUA today perfectly
reconciles the entrepreneurial, numbers-focused, marketing-savvy Elena with the Elena who loves living in a world where she can visit Ogygia with Telemachus, stroll with Mr. Darcy on the grounds of Pemberley, dream in the Valley of the Temples, and listen to jazz in Gatsby’s villa.
ELENA TORNAGHI
She was born in Monza into a family of entrepreneurs and professionals. Even as a child, creating and selling were among her favorite forms of play and sources of inspiration. Setting up impromptu sales with her own creations and secretly adorning herself with her grandmother’s jewelry, she emulated and drew inspiration from her father—an entrepreneur in the antiques market—and her grandfather, a building contractor and jewelry store owner.
In her teenage years, classical studies made her fall in love with antiquity, literature, poetry, and art. Above all, they made her realize how deeply fascinated she was by the beauty the human mind can create, in every possible form.
At the same time, her desire for independence led her, from a very young age, to organize events in her hometown, establishing a small event planning company.
It was there, before even coming of age, that she understood she could combine her entrepreneurial background with her passion for creating beauty. At 21, she opened her own marketing agency with her partner, and five years later, through their agency, they met Alice.
Elena immediately fell in love with Alice’s creative vision, which encompassed all the references and passions that had nourished her life: art, culture, accessories, revolution, and beauty. Together, they are now writing a story entitled APUA.
Her role at APUA today perfectly reconciles the entrepreneurial, numbers-focused, marketing-savvy Elena with the Elena who loves living in a world where she can visit Ogygia with Telemachus, stroll with Mr. Darcy on the grounds of Pemberley, dream in the Valley of the Temples, and listen to jazz in Gatsby’s villa.