To those who don't live in Italy, the phrase "Made in Italy" may simply be a slogan for something that was produced in the country.

All products created in the world are associated with the country where they originate from. 

Made in China. Made in Japan. Made in Taiwan. Made in U.S.A. Made in India. 

These few words, however, that are printed on the packaging or labels of the products we purchase have a much deeper meaning. They reflect on the country themselves, which sometimes cause stereotypical opinions to formulate (both positive and negative) in our minds.

An Architect's Perspective

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with a young and aspiring Italian architect named Andrea Zambon. He lives in the Veneto region of Italy, just on the other side of the Friuli border, and is immensely proud of his country and his heritage. It was quite a breath of fresh air to hear an Italian that is so passionate about where he lives. Sometimes, during our every day lives here in Italy, my friends and I tend to focus on the negative of Italy and the political corruption that plagues us daily (99% of my friends here are Italian).

Andrea oozes a love for his career and in addition to this, he is very knowledgeable about Italy, design and Italy's favorite nectar: wine. 

When we asked him what "Made in Italy" means, we received much more than a quick sentence or two: 

"It's difficult to explain the meaning of "Made in Italy" in just a few words. 

As an Italian, and also as an architect, I believe that it is the title of a story. The story of my father and of hundreds of other fathers. The story of someone who falls in love with a trade or craft; of those who invented the craft; of those who have sacrificed everything for the sake of an idea; of those who have learned to respect they quality of the materials; of those who dedicate their free time to their craft and who have always strived to be better, be perfect, and who will never be satisfied with what they have done. The story of those who realize the importance of giving the next generations (their children) as many opportunities as possible to succeed in life.   

"Made in Italy" means all this and so much more. It means that people say, "I believe in this."  "I made this for you." and "This is what I know how to do best." 

The Favola Leather sofa is a classic example of what Made in Italy really means.
The Cubo Armchair (left) and the Favola Leather Sofa (right).

Behind this leather sofa, for example, is not just esthetic beauty and an affordable price tag; there's the experience of the person who cures the leather, choosing each piece carefully and working around any slight flaws that the leather may contain; there's the person who builds the frame so that it will be comfortable for those who sit in it; there is a master seamstress who controls every single stitch as she sews; and there is also the person who tells a story through the design of the sofa."

Andrea has followed both modern and historical design projects, using his creative skills and knowledge acquired in Venice (where he studied) to fulfill each of this client's requests and to add that special touch that recalls his own unique creativity.