For this year's International Women's Day, a group of brilliant female artisan takes a seat at the ladies' lunch table to talk craftsmanship, their journey as artists and mentors to younger generations and their favorite pieces from each other's collections, in the spirit of mutual support and celebration.

Flip through our interviews with ​Federica Massimi, ​Francesca Colombo, ​Luisa Longo, ​Natalia Criado, ​Paola Caselli, ​Vetrofuso by Daniela Poletti and ​Vio's Cooking for an insider's look at their passions, from their most-loved regional dishes to their tips for styling their dream table.​

What piece of advice would you give to women artisans approaching the world of craftsmanship today?

Sometimes I get women writing me asking for advice and they always start with "I would like to do ... I would like to create ... I would like ...". What I always tell them is to drops the "what if" and start creating! Whatever comes to mind, put creativity in motion and when you have found your passion, aim high, be patient and invest in yourself.

How would you style the table of your dreams?

As spring is approaching, I would say a fresh, one-color linen tablecloth with an irregular shape and exposed stitching. A themed charger plate, ceramic plates with clean lines, a series of fun bowls in different sized and freshly cut wildflowers mixed with fresh fruit, which is an obvious must-have for me. Amber blown glass glasses, bizarrely shaped tall jugs, candles and napkins - rigorously fabric!

What is the traditional Italian dish you love the most?

Undoubtedly tagliatelle paglia e fieno, a dish that takes me back to my childhood.

What piece of advice would you give to women artisans approaching the world of craftsmanship today?

The world of craftsmanship has always had a special eye for women, giving them more space for expression and experimentation than other sectors. The advice I would give is not to be afraid to team up with other artists; it is from dialogue, collaboration and different experiences that powerful and precious synergies are born at the same time.

How would you style the table of your dreams?

I would mix and match some family heirlooms with more contemporary pieces. How many times have we found ourselves inheriting a family piece, something with a strong emotional value but maybe aesthetically not quite in line with our tastes? To complete the table setting, fresh flowers and beautiful linen napkins are a must, in keeping with the general color palette of the table.

What is the traditional Italian dish you love the most?

As a true Milanese, I couldn't resist a Milanese risotto. The care that's needed in preparing it and the saffron color that makes it stand out are very special, and part of a memory that ties me to my family and the region where I grew up.

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How has the world of tableware evolved in recent years, and what values are emerging today?

Today, formality has given way to very personal choices of table-setting that are also very sophisticated in terms of colors, flowers, decorations and materials. Everything is possible: extremely eclectic combinations, mixing old and new, precious and raw. People have really appreciated the novelty of women's crafts and crafts in general, appreciating unique pieces and themes. There are no more rules and above all you adapt what you have with ad hoc additions to better describe the event, the place, the moment you want to celebrate. You fall in love with particular pieces and no longer buy for status as you once did: the glassware, the china, the tablecloths ...

How would you style the table of your dreams?

As an artist, I love to create unique tablecloths and am inspired by my own dreams as well as nature. Above all, I want to convey to my clients the same joy that I feel, the softness and fluidity of my textiles. My dream table would be set with my silky placemats, which are original and decorative yet functional - I am particularly fond of the hexagonal ones. I have fun mixing all the different colors on my table.

What is your favorite traditional Italian dish?

My favorite Italian dish is Ferrara's pasticcio di maccheroni, which is surprisingly sweet and savory, a sweet shortcrust pastry cake that contains a macaroni pie with béchamel sauce and meat sauce. When my friend Marcella brings it to me from Ferrara I am the happiest woman in the world!

What piece of advice would you give to women artisans approaching the world of craftsmanship today?

Women in the field of craftsmanship are usually the ones who run the companies. The workshops where I make my objects are family businesses and it is women who take care of the company's administration. Craftsmanship was a traditionally male field, and today women in Italy represent 20% of it. I would advise women to innovate with new technologies, to start collaborations and to work side by side with artisans, so as not to lose these traditions.

What is your favorite traditional Italian dish?

Milanese risotto, pumpkin tortelli and 'puntarelle alla romana'.

Sitting at the table is the convivial moment par excellence. How do you think this stimulates discussion and sharing new ideas?

Food and emotions have a very close relationship. The moment we sit at the table and we share with our families, friendships, loves and projects are born. Sitting at the table is a ritual, and a dynamic space where we learn, share and bring our ideas out in the world. Around cultures there are thousands of rituals and celebrations around the table, they all have one purpose: to share.

What piece of advice would you give to women artisans approaching the world of craftsmanship today?

Many newspapers and magazines talk about female craftsmanship as a force to be reckoned with, constantly growing. To be a small artisan is a daily challenge for me: you need energy, patience (a lot of patience), willingness and an economic effort. Many excellences of female artisanship are still hidden or downgraded to a hobby. They should be brought to light, encouraged and transformed into actual resources. An advice for someone starting now? Never mind age or social status. Your belief should be to never give up. You can make it, step by step. If you really feel that you have something true to show, keep going.

How would you style the table of your dreams?

Flowers. Flowers. Flowers. Flowers on plates, in centerpieces, on the tablecloths. The only exception should be the glasses and flatware, which should be elegant and functional.

What is the traditional Italian dish you love the most?

Pasta. Without a doubt pasta as a first course. Italian par excellence, declined in a thousand and more ways puts everyone in agreement, from North to South.

​How would you style the table of your dreams?

Producing glass plates myself, I am lucky enough to style my dream table quite frequently. In setting the table I enjoy showcasing all the colors of my glassware, and their particular shapes are matched and elevate the food. Most of all I love using fresh flowers and paper and other elements of nature: leaves, branches and moss found during walks give great seasonality and character to my style.

What is your favorite traditional Italian dish?

Being born in Piedmont, without a doubt polenta in all its forms, both steaming from the pot and grilled and accompanied by artisan cheeses.

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How has the world of tableware evolved in recent years, and what values are emerging today compared to the past?

​The world of Italian craftsmanship is part of our most precious heritage and especially appeals to a female audience, including the art of the table, plates, glasses, tablecloths and decorations. In recent times, there has been a great return to the art of the table, as people have found themselves living more in their homes.

How would you style the table of your dreams?

The table of my dreams is a spring table, which tends to be green, with a floral theme and my objects such as butterflies, baby elephants and parrots - in short, a table that's a bit magical, full of candles and flowers.

What is your favorite traditional Italian dish?

A fusilli casserole with Mediterranean flavors, covered with fried eggplant. The recipe can be found in my cookbook Vio's Cooking: An Italian Lifestyle.