Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruggero Ruggeroni. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Ruggero Ruggeroni was born and raised in the Italian town of Vigevano, just outside Milan. Upon finishing his secondary education, he studied Fashion Design in Milan. Ruggero began carving out a niche for himself using his newfound American sensibility combined with a distinctive European flair. He was working on a project building display structures for his clothing showroom and, in the process, unleashed a well of creativity that had not been yet tapped and discovered his true passion: Interior Design. He returned to school to study Interior Design at Parsons and never looked back. Ruggero has worked on several projects, including designing restaurants like MyMoon and Lokal Bistro in Williamsburg, NY, La Esperanza in Teaneck, NJ, and residential apartments at the Setai 5th Avenue and Park Avenue South in Manhattan.
After moving to Austin in 2019 to open a midcentury vintage furniture store, Covid 19 put everything on hold for several months and decided to work on a new project in the food truck industry: La Jeanseria Mensa. The concept is inspired by merging two essential trends, which distinguish our Italian culture internationally, food and fashion. Why “La Jeanseria Mensa”? One of the most important items in our closet is a pair of jeans, his evolution from a working durable garment to a casual but sophisticated must-have. It is also an American trademark that inspired every designer collection, symbolizing unity and peace. Mensa is the factory canteen where workers can enjoy a warm meal during their lunch break and connect. Simultaneously Ruggero has been developing a new collection of table lamps made from repurposed liquor and wine bottles under the RRWorks by RRuggeroni label.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It is always a challenging road for any artist or creative person. That struggle or challenge is the pushing force to keep you creative and appreciative of good outcomes. Your biggest challenge is always yourself constantly wondering if it is ever good enough. You can receive 100 praises, but the 1 bad review brings you down and forces you to be and do better.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in restaurant and furniture design. One of my first restaurant designs in 2004 was MyMoon in Williamsburg, NY. Back then was the beginning of the industrial/steampunk design, and I had the opportunity to work on what used to be the boiler room of a leather factory. After demolition, they left the metal vats and other materials at our disposal to be integrated into the design. I’m proud of my resilience, the drive to learn more and improve myself. What sets me apart from others is my versatility. I was lucky to grow up in Italy, where style and history are everywhere, and spent many years in NYC, where high energy and inspiration are palpable.
What are your plans for the future?
The plan for the future is to resume the import of Italian midcentury furniture eventually.
Contact Info:
- Website: rrworksbyrruggeroni.com
- Instagram: @rrworksbyrruggeroni @lajeanseriamensa
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ruggero.ruggeroni
- SoundCloud: paletta321
