Mark your calendars for June the 9th at 6pm. The destination is carpet designer, CC Tapis’ showroom on Via San Simpliciano in Milan. The reason… a great one!  

CC Tapis shares a special place in our extended Yatzer family—recall the gorgeous silk Rugthko carpet designed for 10 by Yatzer. For the past nearly 20 years they have produced their stunning hand knotted, silk and wool carpets in Nepal through the capable hands of Tibetan artisans. They are now giving back to these same craftsmen and their families with the second annual, fund-raising auction CC-FOR EDUCATION. The NPO, which was instigated by CC Tapis founders, Fabrizio and Nelcya Cantoni in 2015, focuses on providing an education for the children, both boys and girls, of the artisans they work so closely with.

Design for Nepal 2016 poster © CC-TAPIS.

Design for Nepal 2016 poster © CC-TAPIS.

Seletti wears TOILETPAPER, Enamel Glasses. Photo © Studio Badini Createam Snc.

Seletti wears TOILETPAPER, Enamel Glasses. Photo © Studio Badini Createam Snc.

CC-TAPIS wallhanging QUADRO CELESTE #1975 by Studiopepe. Photo © CC-TAPIS.

CC-TAPIS wallhanging QUADRO CELESTE #1975 by Studiopepe. Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Rugthko rug by CC-TAPIS for the 10 by Yatzer debut collection / Himalayan wool and bamboo silk Handwoven in Nepal / 180 cm x 120 cm / Edition of 10. Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Rugthko rug by CC-TAPIS for the 10 by Yatzer debut collection / Himalayan wool and bamboo silk Handwoven in Nepal / 180 cm x 120 cm / Edition of 10. Photo © CC-TAPIS.

The Nepalese people are warm, kind and intelligent but due to political and social circumstances and limited access to educational opportunities, children are often forced to help their parents and families at home and never receive a proper education,” Nelcya tells us. The designs included in the CC—FOR EDUCATION auction (which will be live on June 9th 2015 and continue through June 30th or until all donations have been sold and by appointment only) have been designed and donated by galleries, companies and artists.

We have been overwhelmed by the kindness of the galleries, companies and artists who have donated to us this year,” Nelcya states. “Design galleries such as DILMOS, LUISA DELLE PIANE, SPAZIO PONTACCIO, SPOTTI MILANO and UNDERSTATE have donated objects ranging from lighting, vases, ceramics, to small furnishings such as side-tables, mirrors and small bookshelves. STUDIOPEPE, PAOLO GONZATO and GIUSEPPE DI COSTANZO have donated beautiful one-off sculptures and artworks which will only be available at DESIGN FOR NEPAL. DesignRepublic.com has donated an array of Scandinavian design objects—from coat hangers to kitchen accessories. SELETTI have generously given table-ware and accessories and CC-TAPIS will be putting the amazing wall hangings from STUDIOPEPE on sale. Last, but not least, we have the support of YATZER and the beautiful RUGTHKO rug donated by 10 BY YATZER.”

© Paolo Gonzato.

© Paolo Gonzato.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Splinter by Nendo for Conde House. Photo by Yoneo Kawabe.

Splinter by Nendo for Conde House. Photo by Yoneo Kawabe.

© Galleria Luisa Delle Piane.

© Galleria Luisa Delle Piane.

Sculpture from Spotti Milano Home Couture Collection edited by Studiopepe. Photo by Silvia Rivoltella.

Sculpture from Spotti Milano Home Couture Collection edited by Studiopepe. Photo by Silvia Rivoltella.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Carpets are one of those items that truly make a house a home, and the skills, love and time of the artisans that work on them is truly on display within each knotted fiber. It is wonderful knowing that the artisans’ own home lives are being improved on a meaningful level by the company that employs their skills. For these are people who Nelcya, Fabrizio and the entire CC Tapis team have come to know personally and love. Nelcya passionately says that through CC—FOR EDUCATION they want, “to give the children of Nepal the power to choose their own future and destiny. An education will give them the freedom to help themselves and their families, breaking the education gap and providing a brighter future for Nepal.”

CC—FOR EDUCATION directly manages the distribution of all funds to their academic partners in accordance with Italian law. So far it has helped 30 children and their dream is to steadily increase those numbers. The education offered is from Kindergarten through to the completion of High School, in two private academic institutions in Kathmandu, the WITS ACADEMY and VIDYA BYAYAM, and includes a wide array of academic classes as well as an extensive selection of extra programs such as sports, music, dance and art. Other than school fees, the proceeds from the auction are spent on text books, uniforms and shoes for the attending children.  

“The First” cc-tapis.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

We enrolled our first group of children in April 2015 and we receive their school-reports after every term,” shares Nelcya. “Being able to watch the progress of each child we have sponsored has a huge impact on us and we know that what we are doing is right and encourages us to continue and do more.”

We asked Nelcya to share with us the greatest dream CC—FOR EDUCATION hopes to someday make a reality. “To attend the high-school graduation ceremony of the children we enrolled in kindergarten, knowing they are prepared for the world and are able to follow their own passions and dreams into their own futures,” she says without skipping a beat. Fittingly, CC—FOR EDUCATION is weaving a future in the fabric of the lives of the artisan’s children, just as these artisans so expertly weave CC Tapis’ stunning carpets. 

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

Photo © CC-TAPIS.

CC—FOR EDUCATION is Weaving a Future For Children of Nepal

1 of