San Patrignano is the largest residential drug rehabilitation community in Europe. Since 1978, when it was founded by Vincenzo Muccioli, it has provided over 26,000 young people in need with a home, medical and legal assistance, helping them to break free from addiction with educational and therapeutical activities. In this context, creativity and craftsmanship have proved a powerful means for building self-respect and being reintegrated into society: that’s why San Patrignano Design Lab was born, grouping different artisan workshops, where everything is made by hand at a slow pace – a rhythm that allows young residents to think and focus on themselves.

There’s a weaving workshop, where 40 young women weave and sew textiles for clothing, furnishings, fashion and home accessories. A wallpaper lab, producing hand-decorated wallpaper and fabrics for prestigious projects, in collaboration with the best design studios. A leatherware workshop, creating bags and small leather goods with the help and support of the master craftsmen of Tod’s. A carpentry, where everything is made by hand because there are no machines. And a metalworks training workshop, producing limited series of custom pieces. All the products are sold to financially sustain the whole community.