Why minrl closes in August, and why that's a beautiful thing

If you’ve spent a summer in Italy, you may have noticed something curious: in August, the cities grow quiet. The shutters close, the streets empty, and even the most bustling workshops press pause. Yes, even we at minrl close for the holidays.
For those unfamiliar with Italian culture, this might sound surprising. A whole month? Really?
Yes, and we embrace it wholeheartedly. Because this isn’t just about vacation. It’s about balance, rhythm, and honoring the seasons, in life and in work.

☀️ The Art of Slowing Down

In Italy, Ferragosto (celebrated on August 15th) is more than just a public holiday. It’s a deep-rooted tradition dating back to Roman times, and today it symbolizes the peak of summer, a moment to rest, celebrate, and enjoy the abundance of the season. Almost everything that’s not connected to tourism slows to a gentle halt during that week, especially in design and artisan production. Not out of laziness, but because this time away is essential. The heat is intense, creativity feels sluggish, and even machines seem to groan under the sun. We believe stepping away, even if we stay at home, means giving our minds space to wander toward new ideas. It’s in these quiet, slow moments that inspiration strikes.

🌿 A Lesson from Olivetti

Adriano Olivetti, the visionary Italian industrialist, understood this deeply. He once chose to give his workers time off not in August like everyone else, but in July. Why? He wanted them to avoid crowded highways, overpriced hotels, and have space to truly rest. He knew that good design and good ideas are born from good living. We like to think of ourselves as following in his footsteps, valuing not just production, but the conditions that make meaningful, beautiful work possible.

🥭 So What Will We Be Doing?

While the shop is closed, we’ll be doing what many of you are probably doing too: Paddling. Swimming. Resting under the stars. Eating fresh fruit and cooking slow meals. Spending time with the people who recharge us. Letting new ideas surface, quietly, gently, until we’re ready to shape them into something beautiful. Because every piece we make is a reflection of what we live, and this part of the year is as important as any day spent at the workbench.

💌 We'll See You in September

Thank you for understanding and supporting our rhythm, which is also the rhythm of our hands, our city, our season, and our culture. We’ll be back in September, refreshed and full of inspiration, ready to create more pieces that speak of thoughtfulness, sustainability, and design. Until then, buone vacanze from Milano, and wherever you may be, we hope you too find a moment to rest, dream, and reset.

With warmth,

Paula & Giovanni