Ethics through aesthetics and quality
The quest for aesthetics and quality is our primary ethical commitment. We stubbornly pursue a utopian goal: we are convinced that a company's ethics are first and foremost bound up with what it creates and how it does so. Beauty and quality are intrinsic values of what we make.
We conceive of aesthetics in broad terms: as culture, creative freedom, space and time for thought, imagination, and emotion. We conceive of quality in a profound way: as a careful and attentive vision of the whole and the details, both in the things we make and the relations we enjoy and protect.
From concept to design, from choice of materials to final production, from workplace to lifestyle and in our relations with our employees, our partners, and our public.
Environmental sustainability
It is our privilege to make objects that by their nature are not disposable and will never become obsolete. To the contrary, Moleskine notebooks tend to become the focus of fondness and good feelings, and are designed expressly to be kept and treasured. Attachment to a Moleskine notebook only grows over time, because a Moleskine notebook is made out of the thoughts and feelings of its owner. Still, it is also made out of paper and so, to some extent, it is a burden on the environment. Moleskine srl is actively engaged in taking every precaution possible to help ensure the health of the environment:
- All Moleskine notebooks are made with acid-free paper, making Moleskine notebooks environmentally friendly products.
- Our FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification is pending.
Support for lettera27 through the Detour project
Moleskine's primary ethical commitment outside of the company involves lettera27, a non-profit foundation working on behalf of a universal right to education and access to knowledge, everywhere on earth and especially in the world's most deprived and underdeveloped areas.
Moleskine provides financial support to the lettera27 foundation principally through Detour , a special project dedicated to culture and creativity, with traveling shows of special notebooks created by artists, writers, architects, designers, and musicians from around the world. These exhibitions have been held in London, New York, Paris, and Berlin, and will be held in Istanbul, Tokyo, and many other cities. An ongoing adventure in creativity that, through the initiatives of myDetour, involves young and as yet unknown talents, and speaks to all the fans of the Moleskine notebooks in the world.
The archive of the many notebooks created for Detour and myDetour, donated by the artists and writers to the foundation, is on permanent display online and constitutes a growing patrimony of beauty, culture, intelligence, and relationships. Its voyage around the world, through the exhibitions organized by Moleskine, is a continual source of opportunities and resources for lettera27.
Supporting young creatives and emerging talents
Moleskine supports young creatives and emerging talents through an extensive network of initiatives:
- the young artists of the Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation of Venice.
- the Mantua Festival of Literature (Moleskine special edition 2008, lettera27 initiatives).
- the Chatwin Prize, Italy.
- ACEVO (non-profit organization).
- Casa del Design, Milan: structure dedicated to young people visiting the Milan Furniture Fair (Salone del Mobile di Milano).
- Esterni, Milan (Associazione Culturale Aprile Onlus).
- Festival delle Lettere, Milan (Associazione Culturale 365 gradi).
- Carnets d'inspiration
- ADC: publication of the annual Young Guns series and support for various student initiatives and exhibitions (i.e. the Undiscovered Letter).
- MOMA Film Retrospective Series: event support for up-and-coming filmmakers featured in MOMA's film series.
- Brooklyn Book Festival: support and promotion of the Brooklyn Book Festival, which highlights the best in young and established writing talent.
- Pen World Voices: support of the 2008 PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, composed of programs, readings, conversations, and debates that showcase international literature and new writers. The Moleskine included an insert with information about the program, schedule, and contributors and was distributed with a personalized letter, signed by Salman Rushdie, to welcome participants.
- Parsons School: providing support via artistic programs, exhibitions, and "jams" with art students and faculty.
- School of Visual Arts: providing support for undergraduate and thesis programs through the donation of customized products and promotional support.
- Webby Awards: promotion for the Webby Awards, featuring the brightest emerging talent of the digital world.
