Designer EN

designer

from the search for meaningfulness to the representational

The story began when Reinhard Margelisch was hit by a car and had to get to know life on crutches for eight months. Time slowed down. The graduate political scientist worked as an investment broker, took a creative break and pondered a meaningful, creative activity with sustainability, social commitment, ecologically meaningful production and economically sustainable growth.

Curiously, the idea came to him during his trip to India in 2007, when he came across old car hoses between all the garbage in Delhi. He cleaned them, prepared them and recognized the potential to create something new.

This was the launch of his first label VARGU.

design and claim

'' I always combine the practical with the design, whereby I don't follow any familiar material laws. My design tries to be based on people and their diverse needs. These range from functional to aesthetic to ethical demands. My work can therefore not only follow existing solutions, but has to deal with the target group in order to arrive at new and innovative solutions.

Very simply, VARGU products serve the purpose, form and functionality, which are based on urban people. My products therefore take into account the timely needs and are directly related to my core topics of sustainability, individuality and social responsibility. ''

In 2010 Reinhard Margelisch expanded the concept in Delhi with the MARGELISCH brand. Initially he used the unusual material combination of buffalo leather, used tire tubes and seat belts.

In 2014 the bag production was relocated to Calcutta in order to cope with the higher order volume and to be directly connected to the leather tannery. Now he uses waxed canvas with applications made from vegetable-tanned buffalo leather for the body of the bags.

MARGELISCH - leather

In 2015 he launched the first MARGELISCH full leather collection made of vegetable-tanned cow and buffalo leather with a lining made of organic cotton.

'' My way of working is probably a bit unusual. If a topic captivates me, I have to work on it immediately and turn it into products. I can't resist the urge to develop new products. As a result, I have launched several own brands over the years. The challenge of dealing with current problems and finding creative, innovative solutions, which in turn go hand in hand with my principles socially, ecologically and economically, gives me meaning in my actions and actions. This way of working can only lead to success with a supportive and caring team. ''

In 2014 he successfully launched

7 c l o u d s with production in Calcutta. The bags made of waterproof tarpaulin (boat covers) and vegetable-tanned buffalo leather applications create an exciting and unmistakable effect between cold and warm materials. The certified organic cotton lining rounds off the bags and backpacks.

For a long time, Reinhard Margelisch had to worry about what kind of product he could create that his company in Switzerland would be able to produce. At the beginning of 2018 he started developing the compact keyholder keycabins. He manufactures the world's first compact keyholder from upcycling materials and specially developed bolts with a milled Swiss cross made of stainless steel.

Since the unstoppable technical progress has found its way into all areas of our life and he wants to apply this fact to his production, he launched the RFID signal blocking mini wallets with integrated aluminum credit card housing in 2019. These are made from discarded leather sofas and used advertising plans. Procurement, cleaning, material cutting, equipping with RFID aluminum boxes and packaging take place in his own factory in Corgémont at his company headquarters.

RFID (radio-frequency identification / identification with the aid of electromagnetic waves) is a technology for contactless or contactless and automatic identification and localization of objects using radio waves.

The smart wallets are all provided with a protective film made of aluminum that blocks the RFID signal. This is not visible because it is carefully worked into the leather.

leather wallets with RFID signal protection from used leather sofas

Under the banner of sustainability, Reinhard Margelisch has developed a new concept for reusing used leather sofas. His employees collect leather sofas from the street and disposal yards and separate them into their components according to the material. The leather is used as the upper material for the leather wallets. The remaining components of wood, metal and foam are recycled / disposed of according to type.

The used leather is cleaned by hand at Margelisch's headquarters in Switzerland. The individual parts required for the production of the wallets are also cut directly in his company.