All my products are entirely handmade by me, (no machinery involved AT ALL!). Each piece is unique and takes several hours to be made.

 

At the moment I don't take orders, due to lack of time. Only the products that you find here are available.

 

I use only Full-Grain Italian Vegetable-tanned leather for my products. Vegetable-tanned leather is processed the traditional way, using natural pigments, never chromium or other harsh chemicals. Chrome-tanned leather can cause allergic reactions. Veg-tan is much kinder on the skin. I know the tannery for each and every leather that i use. Most are multi-generational Tuscan family businesses who pour as much into their craft as I do. The origin of the leather is always indicated. The natural cowhide leather that I use is hand dyed (only with natural elements and to reach the tone i'm looking for), hand oiled, hand waxed and and finished with the best product on the market.

 

All of my products come with a lifetime guarantee against any defect. I will repair or replace any item that has failed because of mistakes in construction such as sewing or gluing errors. I will pay for shipping and repair your item at no charge. The lifetime guarantee does not cover neglect, abuse, or use other than intended. If we cannot repair the item, then I will issue a replacement. There is no guarantee that the exact leather or accessories will still be available, and there may be some differences from the original.

 

No "genuine" leather here:

Products stamped with "genuine leather" or "100% cowhide" only need to technically come from an animal to earn this distinction. The vast majority of mass-produced leather products are pulped, laminated, and painted scrap leather. Don't waste your time with junk.

 

No "top grain" leather here:

Top-grain leather (often also called corrected-grain leather) refers to the uppermost layer of the animal hide, it also known as fiore corretto or mezzo fiore in Italian. Unlike Full Grain Leather, which contains the entire thickness of the hide, top grain leather undergoes a slight sanding or buffing to remove imperfections on the grain side. Despite the name it's a lower quality leather compared to the Full-Grain leather. I don't use it.

 

What is Full-Grain leather?

Full-Grain leather, or pelle Pieno Fiore in Italian, is the truest form of leather's potential. Full-grain leather represents the surface layer of the animal's epidermis (the one to which the hairs are attached), and which has not undergone particular processes that have altered its natural appearance. This material turns out to be the most natural of its category and knows no rivals in terms of quality. There is nothing better. Full-Grain leather retains its layers, giving it wonderful endurance and strength. I only use Full-Grain leather.

 

What is Vegetable-tanning?

Vegetable-tanning leather is an extremely old and revered method of treating hides, wherein fats, oils, and vegetable tannin extracts such as from the bark of the chestnut tree are thoroughly infused. This age-old process gives the leather deep, rich colors, mild water resistance, and wonderful patina that only gets better with age. All this while avoiding harsh chemicals that the vast majority of consumer leathers use for tanning. Vegetable-tanning is difficult. Time consuming. It takes 40 days to produce it (instead of 36/48 hours required to produce the Chromium-tanned leather), but...worth it.

 

What is Aniline leather finishing?

Aniline leather finishing is a type of leather dyed exclusively with soluble dyes. The dye colours the leather without producing the uniform surface of a topcoat paint or insoluble pigmented sealant, as on other leathers, and so retains the hide's natural surface. Hence, any visible variations on the surface of the undyed leather such as visible pores, scars, or other blemishes will remain visible. It is the finishing par excellence. It makes the leather unique and natural. For this reason, only luxury best quality leather is suitable for Aniline finishing. Here any “defect” of the leather is treasure to watch and enjoy.

 

Why does Vegetable-tanned leather change color over time?

This is called "Patina"! Vegetable-tanned leather is famous for its ability to take on the shapes and colors of its every-day use. The leather will conform to your body and slowly change color and texture over time. Wear it like a badge of honor. Leather doesn't wear out as easily as it wears in. 

 

Why all the hype about Italian leather?

In Italy, leather tanning process began over 2000 years ago. The tanneries of Tuscany are strictly regulated and organized into the The Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather Consortium, which safeguards the legendary quality of the region's leather crafters. This is not to say that tanneries around the world cannot be equally incredible, but there is truly something special about the centuries-old devotion to Italian leather.

 

What is "Burnishing"?

Burnishing is the process by which the rough and loose fibres at the edge of cut leather are compressed back into the leather to ensure a long-lasting, water resistence, shining and smooth finish to the product. It's made by applying heat and friction, in several stages, interspersed with the use of increasingly finer sandpaper and an apposite agent. I only use a completely natural agent for this process. It takes very long time to burn the edges, but the result it's amazing. Dyeing the edges, in addition to hiding flaws in the cut or finish, can cause problems. For exemple when dyed edges of leather are rubbed, they can crumble or stain garments. I don't dye the edges of my products for those reasons. 

 

Which glue do I use?

I use only water base - non tossic glue.

 

Saddle stitching vs. Machine sewing. Which one is better?

Hand stitching is about more than just creating another product, it's an art. It takes 11 times longer to sew by hand than to sew by machine. Hand stitching is my only method for two reasons: craftsmanship and durability (and because this is the only way if you want to make a real "hand made" product).

There's something special about knowing that an actual person crafted each stitch of the wallet you're carrying in your pocket or on the strap you wearing on your wrist. It's the difference between receiving an handwritten letter and an email — both get the job done, but one has a more personal, human touch. 
Hand stitching uses a different technique than machine sewing. Hand stitching has roots stretching back centuries to ancient times, where it was used for its strength and durability in creating everything from clothing to armor. This technique has stood the test of time due to its unmatched ability to create robust and long-lasting seams. Because leather bends and softens over time, a stitch with some give and take to it will last longer than a machine stitch that could snap once the leather has been broken in. Unlike Machine sewing, Hand sewing also requires punching holes for the thread to pass through. Punching holes by hand takes a lot of time and skill. They are done with tools called "Pricking Irons" or "Stitching Chisels".

 

Which stiching technique I use?  

The technique I use is called "Saddle stitch". This technique is characterized by the use of two needles working in tandem at both ends of a single thread. This thread runs on both sides of the leather, passing through on both sides. This means that if one thread breaks, the whole thing won't unravel. Instead, it can be repaired and last even longer. Hand stitched leather goods also provide more flexibility than a rigid machine stitch. 

 

If you are looking for something unique, something completely Handmade, something completely natual and something made with the best italian leather...you are in the right place.

 

For any further information, contact me via email, via Instagram or WhatsApp.