Showcasing Artisan Talent
The finest Italian craftsmanship, with the exceptional manual skills of the different territories, has for the first time been represented in a new project promoted by the Gruppo Editoriale publishing house, in association with Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte and Osservatorio dei Mestieri d’Arte of Florence: Italia su misura.
This ambitious, innovative program gives space and visibility to numerous Italian artisans of excellence, who are praised and admired all over the world and who contribute to render Italy a destination for cultivated, and responsible tourists.
How? Via a website and printed guidebook that share the same meaningful, evocative title, Italia su misura (Tailor-made Italy).
The website, www.italia-sumisura.it, presented to the media and public in Milan and Florence, lists some 300 artisans subdivided into geographical area and artisanal activity, that can be easily searched by the user; it is bilingual (English-Italian) and features beautiful visuals, showcasing the works of master craftsmen and women. It includes as well information and details on topics related to craftsmanship. The already wide selection is destined to be regularly updated and expanded.
The ambitious initiative was made possible by the support of 20 Italian savings banks and the coordination work carried out by Osservatorio dei Mestieri d’Arte. The project was realised as a response to one of the most serious issues raised by the artisans themselves: the lack of effective market visibility for their products, both in Italy and abroad. Fine Italian craftsmanship often sadly remains isolated and inaccessible, due mainly to a lack of communication and of shared platforms.
Besides the website, after the success of previous publications dedicated to the artisanal ateliers of Milan and Florence, the project promoters also wanted to realise a shopping guide devoted to Italian workshops covering all areas of production, from pottery to jewelry, from fabrics to silverware and tailoring, from musical instruments to crèches (nativity scenes), from glass to wrought-iron artworks… an eloquent map of quality merchandise. The publication of the printed version of the guide, beautifully illustrated and bilingual, is sponsored by the historical Maison of fine watch-making Vacheron Constantin, based in Geneva, who has always been particularly sensitive to Europe’s distinguished artisans in all fields. The guide will be available in bookstores and in some five-star hotels. With 260 years of history, Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watchmaking Manufacture in the world; the promotion of the métiers d’art is for them a real mission, an ethical duty. As partners of the international network of the European Artistic Crafts Days, in Italy they support the projects of Fondazione Cologni.
The images of this precious volume have been realized by Dario Garofalo, who specializes in portraits of working artisans and of their workshops, adding poetry, nobility and beauty to what they do.
