June 03, 2021 Brands We Carry
Brands We Carry : R+D. Lab
R+D Lab is a Milano based design studio that we love and admire for their attention to small batch traditional craft manufacturing and quality materials. They work closely with their artisan collaborators much like we do at MINNA, and this past spring we added a few of their light catching pieces to our tabletop collection. We are so excited to share a bit more about one of the newest Brands we Carry with you!
By Andiyah Patrick
Tell us about you!
A small background on us, R+D.LAB design studio is based in Milano. We have primarily been working in fashion and design of products and only in the past 3 years we started to design and develop our own products under our own label from a project that was born from a need for beautifully designed and expertly quality made products for our own home. Then after extensive research to find master artisans and in small traditional manufacturers with excellence in their craft, we set off to create our collection investing always in quality of materials and workmanship. The design references of the collection come from the vernacular of Rationalismo and Neo-rationalismo architecture that is all around us in Milan. We put our trust in the rich history and experience of our artisan collaborators to guide our design into beautiful products that are highly distinctive products that are functional, sustainable and meaningful for today’s modern life.
How did you get started with R+D?
Our project really began primarily from a need for beautifully designed and well made products for ourselves and the inspirations around us of the rationalist and modernist architecture that is in abundance in Milano. Then after extensive research to find master artisans and small traditional manufacturers with excellence in their craft, we set off to create our collection combining together these elements of design and honest workmanship to make highly distinctive products that are functional, sustainable and meaningful for today’s modern life.
At MINNA we believe in creating beautiful, ethically made products and using business to do good - how do these concepts relate to or inspire your process?
People / Community First- our workshops are all family owned and operated with a great link to respective communities. With the issue of Covid this fact was further evident as each of the 3 workshops have been thrilled to restart and continue the activity thanks to support of our clients like yourselves. This work is a great support to their families and community.
- Low Impact / Considered Materials - Being based in Italy all of our workshops comply fully with EU strictest guidelines on environmental, personal impact. We source all of raw materials also in the EU as well at the highest standards. We use glass and ceramics that are reusable and low impact supporting the ideas of low impact. The cashmere, wool and linens yarns are all ales produced by mills that certify low impact standards. We don’t really advertise this fact but we are truly by nature a low impact brand. We only produce what we have on order and we have limited production capacity so we are working with few partners, this in itself gives us the ability to be more responsible in our production.
- Animal Welfare - in this case I think we have now relations with animals as we don’t produce leather or skins and also cosmetics that are tested on animals.
What about your home makes it feel like home? What is a favorite memory of yours in your home?
For us our home is made up of objects and art pieces that we bought through our travels and of pieces we fell in love with. We believe less is more, and as our home is limited in space, so we truly think through what we buy. I can tell you it's always of things that are meaningful, authentic and beautifully designed.. I have attached some photos from our summer home in the Island of Sardinia, Italy.
What are you reading, listening to, watching or looking at lately?
My mornings always start with the NYT Daily podcast, I just can’t live without it even though I am in Italy a lot! Jay is always interested in documentaries, and there are so many good ones these days. It's so wonderful to understand the world we live in through history and meaningful story telling. I have to say we also love a good Netflix series.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I know it may sound like a cliche, but find what you love to do! It will be tough, you have to work hard at it but you're creating what you believe in. For us, we believe in well designed, functional, and meaningful products.
