Vivolo celebrates next generation of designers
The winners of the third Luciano Vivolo Awards have been announced, with the competition being open to all Italian fine arts academies for the first time.
The initiative supports emerging talent and strengthens dialogue between education and industry, offering cash prizes and the opportunity to undertake internships at the leathergoods manufacturing company.
The winners are Gennaro Esposito from Academy of Fine Arts of Naples; Madalina Albu, Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna; and Yafei Lin, Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna.
The company’s founder, Luciano Vivolo, said: “Talent needs to be heard, supported and put to the test. This award is our way of recognising the value of those who are studying today and imagining the future of design, with the same curiosity and the same respect for materials that have guided my journey since the very beginning.”
Mr Vivolo founded the company in 1977, selling leather offcuts as fashion patches. It now produces 15 million leather accessories each year for some of the world’s leading fashion brands.
In 2025, Vivolo also published its first Sustainability Report (2023–2024), outlining a vision where sustainability also means training, passing on skills and valuing local resources.
Image: Winners with the Vivolo family
