Vakigrad

In the early 1970s, my parents immigrated from Montenegro in the former Yugoslavia to Denmark. Almost a decade after their arrival to Denmark, I arrived to this world - and ever since my parents have called me by the nickname Vaki. 

I have always been fascinated with cities. In fact, for several years, I thought I should become an architect, but that's a different story. Design and art became how I feel I can express myself the most. The urban inspiration, so many have told me, is nevertheless evident in my work as is the Scandinavian tradition in which I'm brought up with.

When starting my company I wanted to honor my parents and my slavic heritage through its name. I combined the toponymy grad - which is a Slavic word meaning town, city, castle or fortified settlement that appears in numerous Slavic toponyms, such as Beograd or Petrograd - to my nickname Vaki. And the name Vakigrad was born.

Some have questioned if the name confuses my urban minimalistic Scandinavian design line with more slavic connotations. But I'm proud of my heritage, and I'm proud of tearing down boundaries. If not in my own company, where else?

x Vaso Vukovic, CEO and founder of Vakigrad

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Words matter. One of those I hold most dear is sustainability. For that reason I feel obliged not to use the word in vain. And for the same reason I believe those of us who subscribe to sustainability should be exact in explaining what we mean by it.

I am inspired by the United Nations report Our Common Future published in 1987. The report, better known as the Brundtland Report in recognition of former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland's role in the making of it, placed environmental issues firmly on the political agenda.

MS. Brundtland aimed to discuss the environment and development as one single issue. And she came up with a definition of sustainable development that I believe makes sense: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

To me, by combining the presence and the future, this definition captures a life philosophy that transcends its 23 words. While neither luxury nor leather goods are basic human needs - anyone who says differently don't know what they are talking about - we should allow ourselves to live today, but carefully consider how our choices will impact on future generations.

When founding Vakigrad I had in mind that people might want to express themselves through things that are made by sustainable principles. That's why I developed these three principles: timelessness for style; product quality for longevity; and cleaner materials to develop superior sustainable leather goods. For that I owe Gro Harlem Brundtland and the UN World Commission on Environment and Development my sincere thanks for the understanding and inspiration of sustainability.

x Vaso Vukovic, CEO and founder of Vakigrad

http://www.vakigrad.com/single-post/2016/11/03/This-woman-made-me-understand-sustainability