Gift ideas

21
February
2023

The power of the Made in Italy Brand

All over the world the best term that represents the idea of Italian products is “Made in Italy”. The popularity of this expression, which over time has been increasingly successful, is due to the grandiose creativity and famous mastery of artisans operating in Italy. Even today, Made in Italy products enjoy incredible trust from international buyers, thanks to their elegance, refinement and very high quality, elements that distinguish them from any other object on the market. But have you ever wondered why?

Why choose a 100% Made in Italy product?

There are many reasons why Made in Italy products are better than others. Italian production has always been synonymous with quality and style, and precisely for this reason, when we talk about products Made in Italy, certain unmistakable characteristics are highlighted. These include the high quality level of materials, the indescribable attention to detail and the ability of a product to last over time. Elegance and Sophistication, more aesthetically focused characters, also make Made in Italy products unique and desired all over the world.

When can you really define a Made in Italy product?

Following the continuous counterfeiting by those who used the “Made in Italy” brand illegally, in 2009 a new directive appeared to protect companies that daily engage in the defense of production on Italian territory. According to this legislation, a product can be considered “100% Made in Italy” only when it has been made exclusively in Italy or when it has undergone a fundamental processing stage in Italy.

The importance of supporting Made in Italy today

In today’s globalised world, which is severely affected by a major economic crisis, the level of competition on international markets has become ever higher, also due to the emergence of new industrial powers. Nowadays it is not uncommon to see politics promote laws that asphyxiate the craft sector in favor of multinational chains, favoring the spread of approved products that lack the typical quality of Made in Italy.

Precisely for this reason it is increasingly important to support local artisans and small traders, who through a history handed down from generation to generation, try every day to create high quality artifacts, entirely produced in Italy.

Florence Leather Market: a 100% Made in Italy story

We too at Florence Leather Market, as proud craftsmen since 2007, are great supporters of Made in Italy. For us it is essential that one of our products is made 100% in Italy, so as to offer the highest quality and monitor every detail in the production phase.

Everything we produce is 100% made in Italy, using materials with a high quality level and dedicating great attention to detail. The slower the product is made, the longer it will be able to last. We sign all our products with a label or with a gilding that certifies the production in Italy, “Made in Italy”.

14
February
2023

How to choose a men’s wallet

The wallet is an object used daily with frequency, as essential to carry banknotes, coins, documents and credit cards with you, as it is important to express your personality and your status. If a few decades ago the trend was to go around with a swollen wallet, today a more minimal and sober line is preferred. Both for those who have to buy their wallet, as for those who find themselves giving gifts perhaps to their partner, it could be very useful to take into consideration both aesthetic and functional factors. In this article we will give out some tips on how to pick the perfect wallet.

The wallet’s purpose

First of all, it is important to know clearly what you are going to put into it. Keep in mind if you usually carry around the bare minimum and therefore some banknotes and a couple of credit cards; if perhaps for work reasons many cards and credit cards are used; if you will also keep the coins or if you will have a special purse for them.

You will then have to keep in mind how much organization you will need, and consequently how many compartments. From these considerations it will be possible to get a first idea on the capacity and above all on the model you will need.

In short, as seen, the choice is extremely subjective, as it varies depending on whether you are a minimalist type, for whom we would like to suggest a thin wallet without a purse, or whether you are a more sentimental and creative person, for whom instead we find a more suitable wallet that allows you to carry with you the coins found on that journey as a young man, the photo of your loved ones and why not some receipts. It all depends on you, but we want to help you along this path by suggesting what to pay more attention to.

Details to pay attention to when choosing a leather wallet: material

The material is undoubtedly the first factor to take into consideration, since the quality, resistance and durability of the wallet depend on it. If real leather is synonymous with durability and protection, there are also different alternatives for those who are not interested in a product that lasts forever, preferring a synthetic material such as nylon, aluminum or polyester, which allow for more colors. gaudy.

The material must also be selected on the basis of one’s status: for a person who holds a certain job position and therefore needs to present himself with an elegant style, a genuine leather wallet is recommended; for younger people, on the other hand, the use of cheaper and more colorful wallets in synthetic materials is also largely allowed.

Come to have a look at our man’s wallet collection and browse every wallet Florence Leather Market has to offer.

Color, Size and shape

Color is an element that largely depends on the type of material: natural colors are more suitable for natural materials such as leather, while brighter and more artificial colors for synthetic wallets are also very interesting.

Other important terms of comparison are the size and shape, which mainly depend on the arrangement adopted to transport it. There are those who prefer a vertical wallet to carry in the jacket pocket, but also those who make a more sporty use of this object by carrying it in a trouser pocket, and therefore prefer a thinner wallet, with horizontal opening. Take a look at our top seller vertical card holder Ivo GM,

Functionality and Price

The functionality of the wallet also depends on the type of use made of it, and may or may not offer space for coins, credit cards or loyalty cards. In fact, many people choose their wallet almost exclusively based on the number of credit cards it can hold. Like our card holder Luigi, loved especially by our younger customers. Finally, another element to take into consideration is the price, which however is inevitably linked to the type of quality and durability that is sought. A genuine leather wallet is certainly more expensive than a synthetic one, but there is no comparison in long life.

For example, a genuine leather wallet, if made in compliance with the most ancient artisan techniques, is capable of lasting up to ten years, taking on a lived-in look and slightly changing shades.

14
June
2022

THE PERFECT BUSINESS LEATHER BAG

The business bag is one of the most sought after items, both by men and women, for its convenience in organizing useful tools for every type of work and for the status and elegance that attaches to the wearer.

To overcome this request, Florence Leather Market has created a collection of business bags with different types of models so as to be able to satisfy all the tastes of customers.

WHAT FEATURES SHOULD A BUSINESS BAG HAVE?

The indispensable features for a good work bag are not many.

The purchase must be made mainly following three criteria:

QUALITY

Surely the quality of the leather and its processing play a fundamental role.

Florence Leather Market uses only genuine leather worked by hand and tanned in Italy, this guarantees a long life product thanks to the 100% made in Italy quality.

COMFORT

When you buy a business bag you must always remember that it is a work object, therefore, it must be practical and functional.

Florence Leather Market equips each bag with pockets (inside and outside) and various compartments so that you can put inside the right space everything you need on the job.

PRACTICALITY

All the business bags offered by Florence Leather Market are characterized by attention and care detail.

The rounded leather handles help to soften the grip and some models have a removable and adjustable shoulder strap perfect to handle the weight in longer.

WHAT MODELS ARE AVAILABLE? /WHAT ARE THE MODELS?

The business bags proposed by Florence Leather Market are the best both in terms of quality and for the wide choice of models and colors that is offered. Each person will have the incredible opportunity to opt for the preferred material, necessary size and style that they most prefer.

Elegant, durable and high quality, each model allows you to express your own lifestyle. All made of genuine leather, polished and vegetable tanned, in Italy!

Among the offers you can find hard or soft leather bags, two/ three compartments, notebook holder, briefcase model, folder and many other models… finding the business bag that best suits your tastes will be very easy!

Functional, professional, innovative design, the business bags offered by Florence Leather Market are a certainty for anyone.

So choose with confidence among the many models of business bags that you find in our wide catalog!

THE RIGHT COMBINATION

All models of business bags offered can be combined with our accessories: wallets and belts!

As you already know, elegance and style go hand in hand, so adding and combining the leather accessory carefully crafted by craftsmen in the industry will make you impeccable!

On our site you can find a wide selection of belts (woven, solid and double-face) able to match multiple different outfits, making you stand out with style and elegance.

In addition to the belts, Florence Leather Market has created different models of wallets, differentiating them in size, shape and closure but always maintaining the same unsurpassed quality that distinguishes the manufacture and the selection of the best materials.

Come and visit our store in Florence and keep following our social media!

7
June
2022

FROM HISTORICAL GUIDE TO FLORENTINE CRAFTSMANSHIP: LEATHER GOODS

THE ARTS IN FLORENCE: WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS?

Florentine leather goods

The artisanal tradition of leather manufacturing was born in Florence almost a thousand years ago and it is still famous all over the world.

Leather processing has always had a consistent impact on the political and economic life of the city of Florence.

THE ARTS IN FLORENCE: WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS?

In the middle of 1100 began to form the first guilds of artisan who were then called Arts, among the minor Arts those that had more relevance were the Art of the Beccai, dedicated to slaughterhouses and the Art of the Cuoiai and Galigai dedicated to tanning and producing leather.

SOME CURIOSITIES…

The word “Art” derived from the Latin “Ars” which meant “physical and mental ability to build something”. This word gives an idea of what the Florentine masters did: ability to create, shape and adapt, all skills that were and still are indispensable to be a Florentine craftsman.

The famous Italian saying “Impara l’arte e mettila da parte” refers to the importance of knowing and learning a trade and then treasure it.

Both Arts were naturally in close contact with each other.

The Art of the Beccai sold leather and the Cuoiai worked leather for their creations. Located both upstream and downstream of the Ponte Vecchio where the skins were soaked in the Arno, their location became a problem later…

HISTORY OF POLITICS AND CREATION

In the sixties of 1500, the political power of Florence was in the hands of the Medici family.

A few years after the regency, Grand Duke Cosimo I De Medici decided to build with his trusty architect Giorgio Vasari the famous Vasari corridor, right near the Ponte Vecchio.

THE LEATHER ARTISAN WERE DRIVEN OUT FROM PONTE VECCHIO

The royal family, horrified by the smell of processing meat and leather in the whole area of the Ponte Vecchio, decided to move the Art of the Cuoiai and Beccai, near Piazza Santa Croce, occupying two streets that today have taken the name of Via delle Conce and Via dei Conciatori.

The place of the Cuoiai was taken instead by luxury jewelers and goldsmiths who are still in Ponte Vecchio and nearby areas.

CONTEMPORARY ARTISAN

In Florence the craft was taught in the workshops, where the master artisan taught the youngest all the techniques and secrets of leather processing, which have been handed/passed down from generation to generation.

This tradition is still alive today. Florence and its artisans are known and esteemed for the craftsmanship of the leather and the quality of the products.

Walking through the city, our attention is immediately captured by the artisan shops that make all the streets smell of leather.

The shop windows abound with items but surely at FLORENCE LEATHER MARKET, one of the oldest markets in Tuscany, you will find the best models regarding bags and accessories in REAL LEATHER!

CRAFTSMANSHIP, QUALITY AND STYLE

Florence Leather Market carries on the Florentine tradition, you will find a vast selection of genuine leather items, the result of the best Made in Italy craftsmanship: genuine leather bags suitable for all occasions, leather travel bags, messenger bags, clutches, handbags and shoulder bags, and luxury genuine leather accessories to complete your style.

At Florence Leather Market you can find the right accessory for you and the true Made in Italy quality!

Visit our e-commerce and follow us on our social media!

28
March
2022

How to spot a fake leather with 3 simple steps

Leather is a durable material created by tanning animal rawhide and skins. However, there are two main types of leather in the market as real leather and faux leather/vegan leather. Pure leather or real leather is made from animal hides while vegan leather is made from synthetic materials like plastics. When you are buying leather products, make sure to pay attention to the grade of leather. Be careful- being deceived is an instant. For these reasons, we at Florence leather market have listed a series of points that you can use as a starting point to understand if it is real leather or not.

Read, always read

Real leather: It seems obvious but read the tag or label. If it’s real leather, it will proudly say so. If you see “100% leather,” “full-grain leather,” “top grain leather,” or “genuine leather,” you’re headed in the right direction. (Learn more about the different types of leather).

Bonded leather: If the label doesn’t say anything at all about the material, it’s probably bonded leather (or even faux leather, which is completely synthetic). Full or top-grain leather and even genuine leather are always proudly noted, like in each description of our leather messenger bags. Also, check the price tag. We love a deal as much as the next guy, but real quality leather, particularly full-grain leather, is much more expensive to work with than bonded leather, so if the price seems too good to be true – it probably is.

Touch

Real leather: Remember again, real leather is a natural material. So, when you run your fingers across it, it doesn’t feel perfectly smooth. Press your finger into the leather – the surface will stretch and wrinkle a bit, like skin. This is especially true of full-grain leather, and may also be noticed in top grain leather. Genuine leather may not pass this test.

Bonded leather: When you run your fingers across bonded leather, it feels cold and unnaturally even. Also, when you press your finger into the surface, it doesn’t act like skin. Rather than stretching or wrinkling, the bonded leather simply depresses under your finger while still retaining its shape.

Smell

Real leather: If you’ve smelled real leather before, you know it has a distinctive “leathery” smell – it has a natural, organic, skin scent that cannot be accurately manufactured.

Bonded leather: There is no reliable way to fake the smell of real quality leather. Because it’s just the pulp of leather scraps mixed with chemicals, bonded leather will have varying degrees of a plasticky, chemical odor (if any odor at all).

Suffice it to say, if you want real leather, you don’t want bonded leather. And if you want real, quality leather, you probably don’t want “genuine leather” either. (Okay, if you’re buying a leather-bound Bible, it’s probably bonded leather—that’s not a big deal. God will forgive you.) But, when you’re buying a leather briefcase or leather jacket, be sure you know what you’re getting.

These are just a few tips that can help you with your purchase. To become a leather expert, keep following us on our blog and on our social channels–