Our African Kitchen

In 2014 Braghetterosse designed and implemented an ethical design project for the no-profit association Vite Intorno who is working for communities in Togo.

The occasion was Design Week in April in Milano. The association asked us to develop a concept and textile products that could be showcased during design week. Vite Intorno has been supporting and developing vocational skills such as sewing and tailoring among the local communities in Togo and had brought back to Italy several pieces of the typical wax-print cotton that could be used for the project.

The venue for the installation was offered by Circolo ACLI Lambrate a neighborhood circle and pub with a spacious patio.

Other partners in this project were: students from fashion school Caterina da Siena who helped to cover the sticks with fabric and developed some of the patterns for the garments, other than served as models wile waiting tables during the design week event.

Also members of the no-profit association PUNTO&CROCE (Crocerossa Italiana) who made all the textile samples that were showcased.

The scene we designed was a vivacious 50’s kitchen, in front of the counter we set up a café-bar with square tables set with the wax-print products that we designed and that were available to the public to be ordered to be made in Togo. All items designed and produced were relative to practical kitchen use such as aprons, chef hats, oven mitts, place mats etc. plus a few pieces of actual garments that were hung all around the premise in a playful boutique style.

The wax-print cotton was also displayed on the kitchen counter and could be purchased by the meter.

Giovanna Villani and Marzia Devoto deisgned the project and the products, Marzia Devoto made the product sketches. Installation by Giovanna Villani, Marzia Devoto and lots of help by IB.