project – parallelolab

the project

We are a group of young artisans and creatives. In 2017 we created an inclusive and sustainable social lab, trying to improve our own lives and those of others. We wanted to spend our time and skills doing what we loved and creating a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. We tried to change the world, starting from ourselves. Today, we employ more than ten people. We have created not only a social enterprise but a lab of good practices.

SOCIAL REPORT

sustainability

To create our products, we use craftsmanship and as many recycled materials as possible. We believe that giving new life to an object is a revolutionary, creative, and necessary act. We recover fabrics, leather, bicycles, and wood thanks to donations from companies, citizens, and public bodies.

inclusion

We believe that every company must put social impact before profit. We do it every day, favoring the social and work inclusion of foreign, vulnerable, and marginalized people, creating a welcoming and protected environment where they can build a new future.

community

When you walk into Parallelo you do not feel like you are setting foot in a company, but in the home of a family made up of colleagues, customers, and neighbors. We are proud to work in a space seized from organized crime: we want to play a role in rewriting its history by generating fertile ties with locals and new energies in the territory.

Mohamed
Gambia, 28

Tailor by profession, cook, farmer, and much more: we challenge you to find something he does not know how to do. In one word: adorable.

Enrica
Italy, 32

Product designer specialized in ceramic processing. She speaks very fast, he also thinks faster. He has freckles.

Michele
Italy, 33

Architect, carpenter, handyman. He has not cut his hair for too many years and has a strong and providential problem-solving.

Boubacar
Senegal, 32

Undisputed leader, solid personality, and constant commitment. Serious until he decides to be, entertainer for the rest of the time.

Francesca
Italy, 31

Graduated with a master's degree in cooperation, she lived on three continents but eventually returned to Castellanza. Bookbinding artist.

Lamin
Gambia, 30

He faces life with faith and courage, pushes boundaries and gets involved. Take away everything but not friends, Jah Cure's music and a steaming cup of Ataya tea.

Andrea
Italy, 31

Marketing and communication manager, he loves food, indie music, minimalism, and a lot of other interesting things (or so he says).

Saidou
Guinea Conakry, 31

The mascot in the group: he is sensitive and friendly. He could do PR and instead is the only carpenter who works in a shirt.

Gabriele
Italy, 30

Professional cook and almost engineer (he doesn't look like one at all). Passionate about cooking, bicycles, screen printing, and slackline.

Francesco
Italy, 40

A mythological creature, half engineer and half designer: pragmatic and volcanic, mature like a father and curious like a child. He shoots a thousand ideas a day. And he makes them real.

Gloria
Italy, 31

Expert in startups and social innovation, she has an honorary degree in cakes. She loves pink and cream.

Raimondo
Italy, 50

The artist of the group: creative, friendly, accurate. It ranges from restoration to sculpture, but we know that ceramics are at its heart!

Silvia
Italy, 33

If there was the "Supporter of the Year" award, she would win it honoris causa. Educator and actress, she is always active, dynamic, and positive: and she is also good at DIY.

Riccardo
Italy, 36

The King Midas of volunteers: whatever he touches he transforms into gold or coffee, to which he is addicted. Humble, chatty, and tender like a koala from Australia, where he lived.

Linda
Italy, 25

Meticulous, efficient, curious. She speaks a bunch of languages - including the young people’s slang, lucky her - and goes straight to the point. At first, she seems harsh, but the truth is she has a heart of gold.

Officina Casona

the social enterprise

Parallelo is a project by Officina Casona, a young social enterprise that welcomes people of any culture to promote their autonomy, inclusion, and fullfilment. It creates useful, beautiful, and sustainable projects and products with recycled materials, shares ideas, and relationships to generate humanity.

support our project

runaways from each parallel of the world

the project

sustainability

inclusion

community

Travelers and locals, far and near, young and not so young. Visionary, passionate, creative, extraordinary people. From each latitude, from each parallel.

the social enterprise