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 therapeutic activities. In this context, creativity and craftsmanship have proved a powerful means for building self-respect and gradually reintegrating society: that is why Casa d’Arte San Patrignano was born. The initiative groups together different artisan workshops, where everything is made by hand at a slow pace, a rhythm that allows young residents to focus on themselves.

The weaving workshop supports 40 women who weave and sew textiles for clothing, furnishings, fashion and home accessories. There is also a wallpaper lab, producing hand-decorated wallpaper and fabrics for prestigious projects, in collaboration with the best design studios. The leatherware workshop creates bags and small leather goods with the help and support of experienced artisans from Tod’s. A carpentry and a metalworks are also part of the initiative, and both promote training and handmaking processes. The products made by Casa d'Arte San Patrignano are sold to financially sustain the whole community.