Life of a "scartigiano"

How Zavàj unique pieces are born

"Scartigianato" is a word I made up to explain where Zavàj pieces come from: "waste" (in italian "scarti") that is worked by hand through an "artisan" process (in italian "artigianato"). Then, by chance, when you combine the two words, you also get the word "arti" (arts), but let's not get carried away: let's keep it humble.

Zavàj is a project that enhances production scraps in a circular economy dynamic, creating unique pieces, new objects, and new opportunities.

But what does this infamous "scartigiano" do in their daily life...?

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1. The Collection of Scraps

“I'm ready, where are we going” Lucio Dalla, Itaca

First things first, the "scartigiano" (scrap artisan) leaves home and heads to his friends: artisan friends in laser cutting, a friend who creates amazing wooden speaker music boxes... He pokes around the leftover pieces from their work, those destined to be thrown away because they are too small or have inconvenient shapes for their creations.

He inspects them closely, gets inspired, and selects the pieces that, based on their material, shape, thickness, and condition, could be transformed into something new...

So, struck by many little sparks of inspiration, he collects a flood of sticks, bits, and small objects, bringing them to his workshop where he organizes them so they’re easy to find during the design and creative phases.

Moral of the first phase: the friends are happy because they empty out their trash, the "scartigiano" falls in love too easily and his workshop is filled with scraps.

But that’s another story...

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2. From Scraps to Idea

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

On a day fairly free of other commitments, the "scartigiano" dedicates himself to a task of scrap craftsmanship: he's overwhelmed by an irresistible desire to create something new.

But the "scartigiano's" canvas is never blank: he starts with what there are and explores his scrap warehouse. He rummages through sheets, sticks, and small pieces, examining them until he's struck by an element that sparks an idea...

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3. Scartigiano Design

Loaded with his "inspiring" pieces, he arms himself with paper, pencils, erasers, and rulers: it's time for bespoke design!

Now, with scraps and pen in hand, the new form of the Zavàj begins to take shape!

This "immaterial" phase is crucial: to pay tribute to that wonderful leftover, the "scartigiano" makes sketches, tests, tries out experiments, always ready to erase everything and start over, because it's not easy to find a beautiful and fitting shape for the scraps...

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4. Production, or scARTIGIANATO

This is where the "dirty work" begins: the "scartigiano" puts on gloves, masks, and goggles and starts the real scARTIGIANATO phase. With drills, pliers, saws, and sandpaper, he cuts, drills, and assembles the material, following the design.

Even in this phase, he continues to create: if, while working, he realizes the design could be better, he changes it without hesitation!

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5. Street Test

Since every Zavàj created through this long and laborious process is something new and unique, the "scartigiano" must accompany it for a while to make sure everything works...

He wears it to check the final effect and ensure it's comfortable. If everything works perfectly, the "scartigiano" is satisfied: a new Zavàj is ready!

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6. On its (new) road

"There's just one line missing from that poem, you can finish it" Roberto Vecchioni, Sogna, Ragazzo, Sogna

The final stage, the joy and pain of a "scartigiano" who creates unique pieces: the trauma of independence.

If the Zavàj is ready, it’s time to send it on its new journey...

"Goodbye, little one: now you must leave the hands that made you and head toward your destiny. You will be loved by others who will take care of you."