The English Jeweller

Article on ViviMilano - Corriere della Sera on our British designer Giovanni Agostino Viscomi who is "The English Jeweller" by Laura Capasso.

«My father spoke to me in Calabrese, but I only understood that it was a dialect when I came to Milan». Giovanni Agostino Viscomi was born in England, and after his studies, a Master's degree brought him to Milan. «It was a coincidence» he tells, «I chose the Master's while browsing through a design magazine». It was 1998, and since then decided that Milan would be his new home. «When I return to England I miss Italy, it's a feeling I've had since the beginning. I think it's a question of temperament and climate», he says. «In England it's cold and the people are colder too, but it's a cultural trait. Milan is a city where you can be whatever you want, you feel free and making friends or meeting new people is easy». In Milan and founded the jewellery brand «Minrl» together with his wife Paula. Each piece is handcrafted, from sketch to polish, using recycled precious metals and gold from certified, ethically and sustainably managed mines. «My wife and I are a team», he smiles. «It was her, of Colombian origin, who further strengthened my bond with Milan, to the point that now England seems more like a place to visit. London is beautiful but too big, while my hometown is too small. Milan is a happy medium: accessible, you can explore it on foot, but at the same time it is imposing, think of the Central Station or Piazza del Duomo.» And in these years he has seen it change: «When I arrived, Milan still had a grey, industrial feel. I remember the desolate Sundays with all the shops closed. That's no longer the case; today there's color and vibrancy. On the other hand, I have the feeling that poverty has increased, especially after Covid. Many people sleep on the streets, reflecting the contradictions of this city».