Kaori Shiina and Riccardo Nardi

Murano glass needs no introduction. However, Ercole Moretti, a historical Murano company now led by cousins Marcello and Paolo, is the last one still ...

Murano glass needs no introduction. However, Ercole Moretti, a historical Murano company now led by cousins Marcello and Paolo, is the last one still creating objects using only the world-renowned Murrine glass. Murrine, derived from an ancient Roman processing technique, are locally produced starting from long glass rods, exclusively hand crafted by the Moretti family by implementing refined and very complex techniques, also in terms of colour pairings. The company also used to create wonderful glass buttons, distributed on a global scale, but nowadays even the historical warehouse supplies are almost exhausted. Paolo and Marcello Moretti are very attentive towards the evolution of customs and tastes: they also introduced a Design Collection, in collaboration with popular specialists, which has had a revolutionary experimental impact. For Hands on Design they produce exclusive items: these products are extremely modern but still follow and bring forward Murano’s tradition.

The medieval village of Mogliano, in the gentle hills of the Marche region has a centuries-long weaving tradition not only in wicker but in any ...

The medieval village of Mogliano, in the gentle hills of the Marche region has a centuries-long weaving tradition not only in wicker but in any manually woven materials. Bottega Intreccio is at the centre of a network of small, traditional workshops spread around the village, each one specialised in a certain type of work and producing everyday objects and even exclusive artefacts: bags, containers, panels, lamps, furniture and baskets, all things commonly found in the home. After a period of decline with the advent of plastic used for these everyday objects, the value of handwoven objects has recently been rediscovered by leading fashion and design maisons and which has also favoured the use of new materials. Today in Mogliano the younger generations have returned to the workshop and so tradition continues its evolution through design. Bottega Intreccio also collaborates with Hands on Design to produce a series of non-traditional objects created by the hands of master weavers.

Young Pierfrancesco Solimene belongs to the groudbreaking part of his family, who are renowned ceramists from Vietri sul Mare. His approach is fresh ...

Young Pierfrancesco Solimene belongs to the groudbreaking part of his family, who are renowned ceramists from Vietri sul Mare. His approach is fresh and new, yet inspired by Vietri’s typical medieval-style colours and glazes. He runs courses and workshops and regularly participates in international events and fairs together with his team. His atelier is in Cava dè Tirreni, close to Vietri. As a 4.0 artisan, he has created his own personal language based on research and experimentation, together with the designers he works with.. For Hands on Design he makes design pieces of impressive formal visual impact, as well as innovative in shape.