Life has a curious, almost poetic way of bringing things full circle. Sometimes, it confronts you with your past to show you just how much you’ve grown. For us at Green Glass, that test came in the form of an email that changed everything. It was from Google.
The Giant Knocks on the Door: When Your Past Becomes Your Client
One day, amidst the sound of glass being cut and the scent of polishing in our workshop, the message arrived. It was from one of the largest companies in the world, the very same one I, Lanchi, had dedicated a large part of my previous professional life to. For over 13 years, my world had revolved around understanding their algorithms, deciphering their secrets from the other side of the screen as a SEO Webmaster. I had lived and breathed Google. And now, in a twist of fate only life can write, they didn’t want my web positioning knowledge. They wanted our glasses.
When I received the email, I was deeply moved, once again, as has happened so many times in this incredible world of Green Glass. Life, in its infinite wisdom, was showing me that the path I had chosen—the path of art, of creating with my own hands—was the right one.
They asked us to develop an exclusive glass model. The design was beautiful. On one side, the Google logo, accompanied by keywords that define our essence: “recycled,” “sustainability,” etc. On the other side, the iconic Android robot, but with a detail that filled us with pride: the recycling symbol on its belly.
An Artist’s Dilemma: A Seemingly Insane Decision
The result of our work was incredible. Premium wine bottles were transformed into 150 unique pieces of art. Working day and night to meet the deadline, we engraved the design they had described onto the glass with artisanal precision. The glasses were a true reflection of our passion.
But this is where the story takes another turn. Due to confidentiality policies, we were not allowed to showcase the design as part of our portfolio. And for an artist, their portfolio is everything. It’s their presentation card, the tangible proof of their work, the soul of their brand.
We faced a difficult decision. We could have kept Google on our client list, a logo that for any company would be a gold medal. But our values, the ones that led us to start this project in a hostel, lie elsewhere.
So I made a decision that, to many, might seem insane: I decided to remove Google from our clients’ page.
Because Green Glass is not about the logos we collect, but about the authenticity and the story behind each piece we create. And if we couldn’t show that story, I felt we were betraying our own essence.
Nevertheless, we will be eternally grateful to Google Argentina for trusting in our art and for giving us one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives.
The Real Prize: Touching the Sky with Our Hands
Beyond the sale, my personal goal was different. It was to personally deliver those glasses to their offices in Puerto Madero. I wanted to see the inside of that company to which, for so many years, I had dedicated my time from a computer chair. It was my personal reward, the closing of a circle.
As we were driving to deliver the glasses, I was incredibly nervous and anxious. I couldn’t wait to get to Google, walk in, and see a dream come true. We arrived at the parking lot in Puerto Madero, and I felt like I was in another dimension. When we finally reached the offices and the doors opened, boom! My mind was blown. I was like a kid arriving at Disney World for the first time.
We were received incredibly well and invited to tour the facilities. It was an amazing place. For me, a former SEO Webmaster, an artisan who had started on the streets, being there, walking the halls of Google, was like touching the sky with my hands. But this time, I hadn’t achieved it with algorithms or code, but with art, recycling, and the work of my own hands.
Here we share the images of that moment, for which we are eternally grateful to have experienced.
This experience reaffirmed our path. It showed us that, at the end of the day, values, passion, and authenticity are the most important assets of any project. It’s the philosophy we apply to every recycled glass and every personalized gift that leaves our workshop.
Anything is possible…
Lanchi & Eli ❤️
