John Marciano
Meet John Marciano, founder of the Republic of Soap – a holistic approach to creating products reminiscent of a bygone era, made by hand in tiny batches, with love!
I have mixed heritage along with was born in Izmir, Turkey. When I was six months old my family moved to completely new York. although I started off kindergarten in Jakarta, along with also attended the Joint Embassy School, which will be at in which point known as the Jakarta International School (JIS). within the mid ‘70s, we moved to Singapore along with had a household there for 22 years. I remember so many beautiful colonial buildings – in which unfortunately don’t exist today. I’ve always loved the Arts, along with ended up majoring in Fine Art at a private university in Texas. Once I graduated through University I joined an apprenticeship programme for Art Conservation along with was trained within the restoration of 3D decorative fine art objects such as wood, stone, jade, along with all types of ceramics. After three years of in which, I returned to Singapore to start a company dedicated to the preservation of National Heritage Artworks.
in which’s incredible! Tell me more about in which!
Well, I adhere to the American Institute for Conservation’s code of ethics, which essentially means in which although the art restoration I do will be often undetectable to the human eye, all my work will be reversible. So within the future when better technologies are available, a future Art Conservator will easily be able to continue the effort to preserve historic works of art by easily removing the work I’ve done without problem. I have restored some great pieces, ranging through modern to prehistoric art. I’ve seen art in which will be invaluable in private collections. In Singapore I restored a lot of incredible porcelain because the Chinese value works of art in in which medium very highly.
What brought you here to Bali to live?
I first came to Bali in 1974…can you believe in which?! Jeez, I feel old! I was a child along with went around on the back of my Dad’s rented motorbike. in which was mesmerizing! Even though I was young, I still remember a lot about how Bali was back then. I remember when the road in front of the original Mades Warung on Jalan Pantai Kuta was dirt….with two-way traffic. along with I remember when the road through Simpang Siur to Sanur wasn’t yet a bypass along with still had unpaved stretches going through thick jungle. Imagine riding through in which at night with no street lights whatsoever…creepy! I continued visiting Bali many times throughout my life along with to in which day there are still pockets I visit where I feel time has stood still. Sometimes in which’s the way the light hits the sand along with the trees, the sounds along with smells; I get transported back, along with in which’s always nice to have in which frame of reference – knowing what Bali was like before. I feel privileged to be able to know in which. When a business opportunity arose in Bali I came here to live. in which was 15 years ago.
I buy your soaps all the time. What got you into doing the Republic of Soap?
I originally moved to Bali to make candles. Historically speaking, the village Chandler made candles along with soap, so the idea of producing soap was intriguing. A chandler typically made candles along with soap with rendered animal fat. I was a vegetarian along with didn’t want to animal products, so I experimented at home along with kept a log of all the batches – testing them by giving the soaps to friends for feedback along with adjusted the components to suit a market of people with all skin types. After a few initial challenges, I finally achieved all the characteristics I wanted in soap which was a natural bar of soap in which was hard along with long lasting. All my bar soap will be cold processed (made without external heat). through the natural vegetable soap, in which was a gradual transition into manufacturing liquid soap along with all the additional body care products I manufacture today. Depending on what will be being requested, my products typically range between being 97% to 100% natural.
When did you expand to private label along with additional products?
Private label started off quickly. All my special order clients walk in using a dream or an idea. I simply act as their hands to make what they want a reality. Clients usually include Hotels, Spas, Resorts, Villas along with Boutiques. I do a lot of custom tailoring for clients. I’m not a chemist, although more like a baker. I employ what I call “kitchen chemistry” to create fun along with innovative products, which can be challenging when dealing with natural ingredients. The natural order of anything natural will be to break down along with decompose back into nature. There are natural ingredients which act as preservatives, so I include them whenever possible for longevity of product. I try to make products in which are long lasting along with organic.
You seem to know a lot about local natural beauty products. What’s beneficial for us in Bali to help keep our skin healthy along with beautiful?
To be honest – I might say in which awareness will be probably more important than having a huge arsenal of beauty products for every type of application imaginable. Natural beauty comes through within. in which’s quite simple in my mind: Stay clean! Stay out of the sun as much as possible along with use Sun Protection when you are within the sun. S
We are within the sun so much, especially when operating bikes. I hear you develop the biggest bike in Bali? Care to comment?
I do have a big cruiser made for American highways. I enjoy the ride. You can cruise comfortably all day on in which. although to get around all the traffic I use a smaller bike because in which just makes more sense.
So at in which point tell me about your additional interests. I see you have a guitar leaning against an old Marshall amp over there.
I love to play guitar. I like blues along with rock based music. I just arrived back through playing the Bangkok Blues Festival, which was fun!
John picks up his guitar along with plays some riffs. Play on John…
Comments
John Marciano
John Marciano