We had the chance to visit SmartMix, a young company located in Sambruson, a hamlet of Dolo, in the heart of Riviera del Brenta (Italian famous footwear and leather goods district). Smartmix created BagFul, a line of bags in printed PVC. These bags are coloured and energetic. But Bagful is not only fresh: after the first glance, it is clear that are well manufactured and resistant.
Here our interview with Demetrio Donà, one of SmartMix founder: we asked him to tell us how Bagful project is born.
Q: Hi Demetrio, can you tell us what is Smartmix?
A: Smartmix is born in 2015 as graphic and communication office and coworking, to mix some different skills that often can be complementaries. We created a creative space (a big open-space, ed) and we follow our clients in communication projects, a wide concept that in our opinion include: printing project, video, social network communication... and even the creation of printed PVC bags!
For this reason in our coworking currently, we find different professionals: graphics, printers, developer and communication profiles!
Q: How is born Bagful... in a graphic and communication lab?
A: The project is born a couple of years ago: we've requested a gadget for a musical festival, and we would like to go beyond the usual t-shirt or beach towel. So we thought about a printed PVC bag, taking the cue from a project experimented few months before. A bag is a useful gadget, different from the classic and common ones.
At the beginning, it was nearly a joke, Bagful (at first it has not a name) it has been a great satisfaction. The first bags had simple graphics with the printed payoff of the company ("Fill your Life") and at once people loved them.
Q: Your "background" is not properly the one expected in the Riviera del Brenta district. Did you take an advantage from the existence of such a consistent local productive system?
Nella creazione di Bagful avete potuto attingere dall'esistenza di un tessuto produttivo così consistente?
A: Tests and manufacturing are made thanks to our experience. We collaborated with some professional for the sewing tasks but fundamentally we don't have contacts with the district players: we developed by our own the bags, version after version. From our side, we are open (and willing) to acquire competencies and improve the manufacturing phases.
We well know Collini Atomi di Scarpa and we buy there several articles, as we know that in Riviera del Brenta there are plenty of productive sites, associations, training project, but creating a real network is not so easy.
Q: Which is the Bagful evolution? Where can we buy your bags?
We started quickly and with a lot of enthusiasm: interest and positive feedback pushed us to improve it, listening to the suggestion of our customers. An internal pocket, a zipper closure, exciting graphics, a real logo, a soft and pleasant straps and a resistant PVC to print on.
The outcome is brilliant: Bagful bags have an extremely professional look! Currently available in 4 different shapes (glam, style, stuff, essential) in a wide range of colors and e patterns!
To better promote our products we created an e-commerce to reach even customers far from our location. You can buy our product even at some events in the Riviera del Brenta area (for example Mirano Summer Festival, our shop window).
On-line we are extremely active: we have a fan page on Facebook and an Instagram account in which every day we give some notes of color to our public.
We currently don't have a traditional distribution channel, but the on-line channel is working good!
Q: Bagful is a solidarity container: you decided to give part of the revenues to project about territoy and inclusivity. Can you explain us your project?
R: 
Since last year we have started to collaborate with Disability Friendly, a project developed in Riviera del Brenta area with the aim of making aware people about disability and accessibility. We support this project with a contest in which we have involved our customers: we ask them to publish their pictures of Bagful in the holiday destination, tagging our account. "For every km traveled with Bagful" we will donate one cent to Disability Friendly, up to a maximum of 4 euros. To support the association during the winter (when people travel less) we decided to donate fixed amount for each bag purchased.
For further information, we suggest to visit the contest page, ed
Q: Is there any other product "work in progress"?
A: Our "core" is graphics & communication: creating bags and accessories is not our main activity, but at the same time we like it very much!
We have created cases and purses on demand... and every day we receive requests, by mail, or directly here in Sambruson. We're thinking about a backpack and a messenger bag, but the realization of these products requires specific skills: being in a territory full of competencies and technical skills we hope to make these projects see the light!
Up to now, we have printed more than 4500 meters of PVC (which means a lot of colorful Bagful ... and a lot of solidarity!), and we hope to replicate soon!
The enthusiasm of Smartmix and their alternative vision compared to other players in the district has generated a fresh product, funny and well done, at an affordable price.
We hope that soon other creations can see the light ... maybe supported by young creative talents and technicians of the area, who want to participate in the Bagful project!
