Embracing wonder: Calliope Kids' Animal Factory installation in Rimini

Mariagrazia Ghinassi, stylist and communications manager for Calliope Kids, tells us how the project came about. It all started almost by chance," she reveals, "we were looking for a special location for a photo shoot and we thought of an installation by Luca Boscardin. But when we realised that there were none in Italy, we thought: why not create one ourselves? So, instead of just using it for our pictures, we decided to donate it to the city of Rimini and make it part of the community.

The idea became a concrete commitment: to provide children and their families with a unique play experience that combines art, design and fun. But most of all, to give a tangible sign of Calliope Kids' mission: "Embrace Wonder, embrace wonder by dressing the world in beauty and hospitality".

Even the choice of a park visited by a large number of children as the site for the installation is no coincidence. "We wanted it to be a lively, accessible place where children could interact with the installation on the spur of the moment," she continues. "Animal Factory" is not just a sculpture: it is a work of art that invites children to play and to explore. The colourful iron animals, with their soft, stylised forms, are designed to be enjoyed on a daily basis. “The antelope, for example, was made expressly for us," she says proudly.

Art is not something to be viewed from afar, but to be experienced first-hand. And this is precisely the value that Calliope Kids wanted to bring to the city: a gift that does not just decorate, but enriches everyday life, transforming a simple afternoon in the park into an extraordinary experience.

At the heart of this initiative is a philosophy that is fundamental to Teddy: belonging. Being part of a community means taking care of it, contributing to its beauty and well-being. Donating this installation was a way for us to give something back to the city. It was a tangible expression of our desire to create bonds and values,' explains Mariagrazia.

The artist Luca Boscardin himself was delighted and amazed by the initiative: "It is very rare to meet enlightened people and companies who believe in the value of innovation and change, in beauty as a value to be shared and promoted. Companies that not only leave the designer free in the creative process and in the result, but also make the great and beautiful gesture of donating the work performed. So thank you Teddy for believing and investing in this vision, for giving me creative freedom and for wanting to bring Animal Factory here to Rimini!", he said.

This spirit is reflected not only in external projects, but also within the company. “During this experience I had the opportunity to work with colleagues I don't normally work with,” he says. “We worked side by side with enthusiasm, supporting each other. Discovering this synergy was an unexpected gift.”

At times like this, one of Teddy's key principles comes to the fore: the idea of being your own entrepreneur. “I found myself managing aspects of the project that went beyond my usual responsibilities,” admits Mariagrazia. But that's the good thing about working at Teddy: we are given the chance to get involved, to follow our ideas and make them happen. 

With solidarity and inclusion as two of its core values, Calliope Kids has proven time and again that its mission does not stop at clothes. With Animal Factory, we want to reaffirm our commitment: “we don't just want to make clothes, we want to contribute to building a more beautiful, more welcoming world for everyone," says Mariagrazia.

This installation is just the beginning: “We have other projects in the pipeline, we want to continue on this journey”, she reveals. The meeting with Boscardin was the first step on a path that will lead us to collaborate with other artists, always with the aim of bringing beauty and wonder into the lives of children”.

After all, this is what Animal Factory represents: a dream that takes shape, that becomes a reality. An idea that has its origins in chance and that has become an opportunity for the creation of something special, something that will stand the test of time.

And as children run among the colourful sculptures, and imagine themselves riding giraffes and antelopes, playing and laughing, it is clear that this initiative has hit the mark. Because wonder does exist, you just have to be willing to see it. And with this project, Calliope Kids has reminded us how important it is to be aware of it.