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Art & Design

VICUS

Photography by Marco Viganò

Behind Vicus are the mind, hands and heart of Marco Lazzaroni, a young artisan from Ticino who in 2015 gave up his office job to start a craft business in which the aesthetic, functionality and quality could flourish and give rise to unique products. On a long journey through many different countries, cultures and traditions, Marco developed a passion for working with leather, one of the oldest craft traditions. He returned to his homeland to buy all the necessary tools and equipment and devote himself body and soul to the project, succeeding in just a short time in creating his first Vicus branded products, all entirely handmade and embodying all the authentic values of “Made in Switzerland”, such as rigour, precision and attention to detail.

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Vicus articles are many and varied and characterised by a linear and minimalist design. They include bags, backpacks and belts, but also card holders, and household items such as organisers and napkin rings. The production process is entirely overseen by Marco in his workshop in Mendrisio, from the cutting and the processing of the leather to the hand-stitching itself. Each piece is the result of a balanced mix of study, experimentation and the intuition of the moment. Marco allows travel and nature to guide his creative flair, as inexhaustible source of inspiration manifesting itself in the unique shapes, colours and compositions.

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All of the products can be purchased on the website or at selected Swiss retailers and are made of genuine Tuscan leather, treated by a vegetable tanning method. “Only tannin extracted from plants and water are used in this process, as opposed to mineral tanning, which involves the use of chromium and other chemicals. It is a more complex and expensive method, and therefore not widely used, but it has many benefits for the environment and for the quality of the leather itself” explains Marco.

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Working exclusively to order, Marco combats the overproduction typical of our time with an eco-friendly approach and a close eye on the environment and society. At the Vicus website customers can join the “Plant a Tree” project and support indigenous farming communities with a small contribution that will enable them to plant trees, look after them and in the future benefit from their fruits. Vicus, which means village or district in Latin, is a tribute to its founder's home town, Riva San Vitale, which in Roman times was called Vicus Subinates, but it is also a clear nod to the homely, artisanal and intimate spirit of the brand that emerged from a small workshop in one of Mendrisio's historic alleys.