Gift ideas

21
December
2021

Makeup for sewing leather or eco-leather

Italy, in addition to having a rich artistic, architectural, and cultural heritage, is celebrated all over the world, also for handicrafts, representing one of the strengths of the national economy.

Among the Italian regions, the most appreciated for its ancient craft tradition, especially at international level, is Tuscany. In this region, in fact, you can still admire the historic workshops of master craftsmen, where you can see how their skilled hands created these wonderful products.

Between tradition and innovation, Tuscan craftsmanship is considered one of the most prestigious and destined to remain for a long time. Its products, in fact, have always been considered of excellent quality and unique.

The masters of craftsmanship, also protagonists of the many exhibitions in the Tuscan territory, range from ceramics to iron, from paper to glass, from textiles to leather goods.

Handicraft products in leather and eco-leather

In Tuscany there are many shops dedicated to leather and leather processing, particularly appreciated to produce suitcases and briefcases, wallets, belts, and bags. In addition, there are many schools dedicated to leather processing, which create high quality craftsmen.

The method of manufacturing leather goods has very ancient origins. It dates back, in fact, to the distant 1200, through the development of the two very sophisticated techniques so-called tanning and plugging by hand. Over time, the art of tanning has been enriched with increasingly innovative and sophisticated techniques, which have made the leather accessory a high-quality product.

Methods of stitching the skin

Leather products are very special especially for their visible seams. These, however, can be ruined with the passage of time, due to rubbing or weathering, leading to the breaking of the wire, even the best. The sewing technique used could however slow down this process.

Even the skin can be sewn either by machine or by hand. It is obvious that a hand-sewn product, in addition to having a higher price, certainly has a higher value than a machine sewn, since it is made directly by a craftsman. The hand stitching also makes the leather product more durable over time.

Machine-stitching

This sewing method is the best known. Two wires are used: one is carried over by the needle and the other is carried under the so-called fuse. In this way it is possible to also use two threads having two different colors, thus making the seam more particular and, maybe, adapting the colors to the type of leather that you are working with.

It is a much faster and cheaper method of hand stitching, as it allows to shorten the processing time of the products, thus increasing the quantities.

Hand-stitching

The hand stitching, instead, uses a single thread with two needles, which pass in the same hole from the two sides of the skin, crossing at the centre.

The holes in which the two needles pass are, of course, made before their passage, otherwise it would be too difficult to pierce the skin only with the needle. To make them, similar tools are used to shape a fork with the teeth equally distant from each other, on which a hammer is struck. Another technique to puncture the skin, is to mark the distance between a point and the other through the so-called cauldron and, subsequently, make the holes with a single hand awl, called lesina.

In hand stitching, moreover, is often used which, lubricating the wire, makes this technique easier. Beeswax, however, not only facilitates stitching, but also helps to protect the wire from moisture and atmospheric agents, in addition to consolidating it to the skin. This allows any seam made in this way to resist for a long time.

It is easy to notice how this is a technique that makes the seam much more robust and safer than the one made by machine.

Florence Leather Market

The Florence Leather Market is one of the leading companies in the sale of high quality Made in Italy leather products, thanks to its skilled artisans who make every item by hand. It also offers a luxury product at a not too excessive price.

The raw material for the Florence Leather Market is fundamental, as it considers it the basis for making quality products. In fact, the product is made with the best Italian leather. The selected leather is worked in a natural way making the final product soft to the touch. The leather object is sewn by hand by the artisans of the workshop of Florence with very precise sewing techniques.

Within its collection you can find several genuine leather items such as bags, clutches, backpacks, belts, and wallets.

Leather bags are suitable for all occasions, every single detail is defined to make the article fashionable and practical. The original and practical leather backpacks combine elegance with casual. The clutches are very appreciated by women who need to use a small bag for special events. Belts and wallets have a well-defined seam and, thanks to the natural leather processing, are soft and practical.

The line of Messenger bags deserves special attention. They are large, comfortable, and practical bags with adjustable shoulder straps. Particularly roomy and durable, they are perfect for the office, since you can insert numerous documents, tablets, and any

electronic device. Finally, the Messenger bags are equipped with several pockets, both small and large, useful for those who need to carry many items even for a simple walk.

Conclusions

Today leather accessories are becoming more and more fashionable. Very appreciated are the leather bags, which make the outfits of every woman. But to be truly exclusive and original, the leather must be worked and sewn with professionalism, to make any product unique and quality. For this reason, it is very important that artisans use the most sophisticated techniques especially in the seam.

14
December
2021

Backpack or bag? Two accessories with different functions, choose which one you prefer

Men and women of different ages need accessories such as bags or backpacks for everyday life. They can be useful for many reasons: to bring the most important things, to go to work and carry computers and documents, to take a trip. An accessory like this is used all the time, so it’s more likely to get damaged or broken. If after our purchase we spend a few days and there is already something wrong, maybe the product was not of good quality.

To have a long-lasting, solid, and well-made product it is better to buy a backpack or a handmade bag made in Italy. This will make us spend a bit more at the beginning but will guarantee us a high-quality product, which we will not have to change from year to year. Buying handicrafts is always a good idea.

Why choose an artisanal leather accessory

A handmade accessory ensures a high quality since it is produced by hand and with excellent materials. Leather in Italy is worked with care and always guarantees durability. A belt, a wallet or a leather briefcase can last many years, even the whole life. The seams are resistant, the material is solid and hardly ruins. Compared to fast fashion products we will spend more, but we will have a top-quality product in our hands. By buying Italian handicrafts we make a sustainable choice, against too much waste of the market. Buying less but more quality products, in fact, is good for the planet, in addition to the fact that we support artisanal activities in place of large chains.

Choosing to buy a handmade leather accessory therefore has its great advantages: lasts longer over time, supports small and medium-sized realities, is a sustainable and ethical choice. In addition to this, these are objects that are very beautiful, designed and made with great care to never be trivial.

There are many leather accessories, the most used are backpacks and bags, but what is the difference between the two? And which is better for us? Let’s see what the main features of backpacks and bags are, and which is the right one for us.

leather backpack

A leather backpack is an almost indestructible accessory. We can put it where we want and always take it with us, it will hardly get ruined! You can use it for work, but also for a trip, and it can contain many useful things. Having always on the shoulders does not encumber us, indeed it will be very comfortable. There are backpacks of many colors and sizes, both for women and men, so there is an embarrassment of choice. Some models are more elegant, others more casual.

Everyone must have at least one backpack, because it is one of those convenient and useful accessories that can save us on many occasions. The backpacks can be adjusted and adapted to each person, even with different physicality.

Leather bag

A leather bag is a jewel that can last for years without ever showing a scratch. It can be small or very large, the important thing is that it contains everything we need. The bag is first a useful accessory for everyday life, but it can also be beautiful to show off with different outfits. Leather is a durable and elegant material, so we can wear a handmade bag for different occasions.

A leather bag can be a very special and beautiful gift to give to friends, colleagues, and relatives. Being a particular and very useful accessory will always be appreciated.

Where to buy leather accessories

Leather is a material that needs to be very worked before it can be used to create accessories. There are many steps to make it perfect and only those who are in the business know all the techniques. Its cost also depends on this, it is not a simple material like others, but must be treated and need the right skills to do so. The price is therefore justified, because we will have a product complete and well done, that with the passage of time will always remain the same.

In Italy we have a good market for leather goods, the important thing is to contact the right store. Florence Leather Market is a leader in leather goods and accessories, all its creations come from laboratories in the heart of Tuscany and are handmade by skilled and qualified artisans. From these products you recognize the real ones made in Italy and we will have with us an accessory that will last a long time.

Now that we have seen all the features of these accessories, we can evaluate whether to buy a backpack or a leather bag. It may be a good idea for both us and to give a gift to one of our loved ones.

7
December
2021

San Lorenzo market

The leather market of San Lorenzo is the most important in the city of Florence: it is set up every day, except on Sundays and Mondays, from Piazza San Lorenzo to Via dell’Ariento and around the Church of San Lorenzo, in the historic center of Florence. It is an ancient market that, even today, is among the favorite stops of Florentines and tourists who are in the city. In addition to the souvenirs, in the San Lorenzo market you will find clothes and a wide range of leather accessories, such as wallets, bags and belts.

The history of the San Lorenzo leather market

The Central Market of San Lorenzo was born on the appointment of Florence as Capital of the Kingdom of Italy; with the arrival of the institutions, around 1865, the city of Florence thought to completely renew the historic center, inspired by the style of the largest European capitals, especially Paris. With the growth of the city and, consequently, of the population, the old market, Il Mercato della Paglia, was no longer able to provide the necessary supply to all the inhabitants, so it was decided to give life, in some of the most dilapidated neighborhoods, The Herb Market in Sant’Ambrogio and the Market of San Frediano, now no longer present.
The idea was immediately successful but the space in San Lorenzo was still insufficient to extend the area dedicated to the market, so a labyrinth of small alleys was created between the city walls that surrounded the historic center of Florence and between some of the poorest and most battered neighborhoods.

For the improvement of the area and for the creation of a sort of large stand under which to enclose the market, the city of Florence, taking advantage of the flourishing period it was going through, hired the architect Giuseppe Mengoni, one of the most sought after in Italy at the end of 1800. The new building, with a clear Florentine appeal given by the base with Renaissance features, was inaugurated, in 1874, with the International Horticulture Exhibition, while the market, in a structure far from what we know today, only took over the following year.

In the last years of 1800 the merchants decreased drastically and the internal arrangement of the market became what we know today: around the Central Market Square, shops and stalls offer visitors goods of all kinds: from food to leather accessories, while the typical local carts offer the opportunity to stop and enjoy the authentic local delicacies.
Still today, as it happened in the previous two centuries, the city life develops around the market, between social and cultural relations, always respecting the ancient Florentine traditions.

The Florentine leather goods

Among the highlights of the San Lorenzo market in Florence there are all the items produced by Florentine leather goods: every day tourists and curious take assault the stalls eager to buy elegant accessories, born from the hands and passion of the best Florentine craftsmen.
Florence, on the other hand, is one of the main European cities with regard to the production of leather and the creation of clothes and accessories sought after, by virtue of their history and their style, all over the world.

As you approach the San Lorenzo market, you can feel the scent of freshly worked leather in the air: don’t stop, however, at the first stand! We advise you to breathe the atmosphere of the Florentine market, immersing yourself between people and typical objects and doing, in this way, a jump back in time. Among the most sought after goods there are, without doubt, the bags, the result of the wonderful Tuscan leather goods: from those with classic and elegant lines to the most modern ones, from small clutches to large bags, from the most elegant bags to those suitable for everyday life, to the ball market of San Lorenzo every woman can find the bag that suits her style and needs.
A similar argument applies to accessories: between wallets and belts, passing through leather nails, every curious will find a garment that will not be able to resist. All the products born from the hands and knowledge of the artisans of Florence Leather Market, a leading company in the leather goods and accessories sector, are Made in Italy: the local manufactory gives daily life to accessories that express, in every inch, the excellent quality of Made in Italy. These are mainly bags, briefcases, wallets and accessories that over time do not get ruined but, on the contrary, earn a value that has no price: with use, the accessories acquire a vintage and unique look, impossible to recreate in any way.

The leather of the Tuscan district is among the best in the world: after a long and accurate treatment process inside the Florentine tanneries, after 13 phases, the leather becomes a real luxury product, with immense value. Buying these products in the streets of the leather market of San Lorenzo means going back in time and being full of beauty and tradition, culture and authentic values.

14
October
2021

Inseme di pellami colorati con tonalità diverse

Everything you need to know about the world of leather goods

What are the most valuable leathers and how to recognize them

There are different types of leather. The natural product differs depending on the animal, the intended use, the tanning or the type of coloring. It is a fascinating product that has accompanied us, protected us and kept us warm since ancient times. Used in numerous sectors; from design to the automotive industry passing through clothing, leather represents a true art that has been handed down for centuries.

Why go for leather?

Leather is a noble and natural raw material, mainly used in the production of shoes, furniture, car interiors, clothes and bags. Approximately 500,000 tons of leather are produced each year, the equivalent of about 1.5 billion m².

This material has a technical advantage over alternative materials: one gram of leather has an internal surface area of up to 300 m², its fibers are rich in collagen.

Therefore, leather has great resistance to tearing, stretching and bending, is reluctant to age and can absorb up to 30% water without “wetting”.
Can absorb moisture from the inside and direct it to the outside. Insulates against cold and heat. No substitute, no synthetic leather has so many advantages. Especially when it comes to shoes, jackets or gloves, leather clearly offers an unparalleled advantage and comfort.

The variations in leather are amazing, depending on how the dermis is processed we have a different texture and value: Nubuck, velvet, aniline, semi-aniline, pigmented leather, oily leather, suede and more.

Animals

Before talking about the characteristics of the different leathers, let’s review the various types of leather starting from the animal of origin:– Lamb: This is a thin but very resistant leather, protective and insulating, suitable for winter jackets. Loved for its delicacy, given by a smooth and silky surface. Its name is synonymous with quality.

– Sheepskin: Sheepskin has similar characteristics to calfskin but is less noble. The advantage of mutton lies in the fact that its thick wool, gives the leather even more resistance and makes it even warmer. It is therefore ideal for the creation of clothes.

– Cowhide: smooth and thick, cowhide is generally not a leather used for its nobility, we prefer it on rough and masculine jackets, which should naturally improve over time.

Buffalo: a more noble natural grain material than its friend above, buffalo remains relatively expensive and can take many forms. Solid or flexible, depending on its intended use and the treatment used.

– Crocodile – Aligator: these are undoubtedly the most famous exotic skins. They are expensive, rare and highly sought after by the large clothing industries for making shoes and accessories.

Le diverse varietà di pelle

– Crust: the crust is a very particular type of leather, as it is not very worked. The tannery does not apply any primer on the leather, in order to reduce chemical treatment to a minimum. This type of leather easily absorbs any type of processing and color, and is particularly used in the clothing and accessories sector.

– Vegetable leather: Today, classic leather is tanned with chrome in particular – the rest of the products is a recipe generally kept secret by the tanneries. However, it is also possible to tan it using natural materials (it is more time-consuming, more expensive and more complicated, but it is possible), so we talk about vegetable tanning. Vegetable tanning is the oldest and most ecological method of treating leather, used for several centuries.– Full-grain leather: Full-grain leather is the most valuable and durable layer of animal skin. This material is the most natural in its class and is unrivaled in quality.

– Sawn grain leather: it is the dermis that has been treated to improve its quality. The benefits are its resistance, nobility and naturalness. Having a product so raw and of such high quality is a guarantee of exceptionality and durability.

– Nubuck: This is a type of top-grain leather treated in such a way as to give a smooth and velvety feel.

– Suede: A popular type of leather that can be identified by its fuzzy surfaces, suede is commonly made from split leather.

– Leather split: is the lower part of the leather, the least noble part and the cheapest. It is often used for entry level products of excellent quality.

Now you have all the information you need to improve the quality of your purchases.

Knowing these indications from now on will allow you to distinguish a quality product from one that is defined as such but that is not at all.

We have always been of the opinion that quality is better than quantity.

7
June
2021

Birth, characteristics and origin of the belt.

The origins of the belt: from the Stone Age to the Roman era

Each of us has worn and knows what a belt is for, what many do not know is the story of this extraordinary product symbol of Made in Italy.

The first, primitive, belt forms have their roots many years ago, more precisely than the Neolithic. Born as an accessory to tighten the life, the belt is one of the first garments with a value not only practical, but also social and religious. In the civilizations preceding the Roman era this accessory is in fact established as a garment with a function of definition of classes and social classes. On it could be applied accessories or tools useful to their craft, sword if you were soldiers or tools if you were craftsmen.

The quality of the material and the workmanship of the buckle, instead, reflected the wealth and well-being of the wearer.

This way of understanding the belt is affirmed in Roman culture, in fact during this historical period this chief takes different names according to the social value. Cingulum was the name for the belt used by civilians, while balteus was the name reserved for that of soldiers. The total absence of this accessory indicated the status of slaves.Usually the buckles were richly decorated and recalled subjects of mythology and religion.

Even today religion and belts have a very strong bond. All religions, keep traces of belts or at least cords, used in sacred ceremonies and in the embellishment of the priest’s clothing. Even today the girdle is an integral part of the clothing of the Catholic priest. Even the friars still use a cord to tie at the waist, so as to tighten the habit. Although since the fifteenth century the belt is stripped of its religious significance some of these habits have not been completely dispersed, many primitive peoples still use belts to try to prevent and cure diseases.

The history of this garment is therefore more ancient and important than you think, as an important element of ancient cultures such as Egyptian, Greek, Jewish and Roman.

Medieval and Renaissance: belt also for women

During the Middle Ages the belt lost its social connotation, but maintained its role as an accessory that still continues to distinguish the richness of the wearer. In this period, in Florence, many leather workshops were engaged in the production of belts, starting a legendary tradition that is still the flagship of the Tuscan capital.

The main novelty of the Middle Ages, however, is that this garment, once reserved only to a strictly male audience, begins to be worn by the ladies of the time. The fashion of wearing corsets and bodices leaves room for large tunics more comfortable, requiring precisely a belt able to gird the waist. This garment therefore becomes a symbol of sophistication for women, as can be seen from numerous canvases of the time where frequently the belt stands out to the eye more than the rest of clothing.

This innovation kept however practical elements typical of the past, the buckle in fact soon became more and more widespread, because of its practicality. The women who used the belt used to direct the buckle to the left, while the men carried it to the right. Even this latter custom has its roots in the past, as it was a practical solution for soldiers, usually right-handed, so that in combat they could easily extract the sword, which usually hung from the left side.

From the eighteenth century to today: the belt becomes an iconic garment

In the following years the belt returns to its ancient purpose: to distinguish the military from the civilians. The former wear functional belts and tightly tied to their uniform, while the latter carry this accessory freely, to different heights and why not attached to the straps, making it the garment symbol of style and elegance that is now.

Nowadays this item of clothing has been definitively consecrated as an essential accessory for feminine and masculine looks, both elegant and casual, since now available in many variations and styles.

When choosing to buy such a product, however, account must be taken of the manufacture of the product and, without doubt if you choose to buy a high quality belt the first choice would definitely be a leather belt made in Italy.

The leading company in the sector is Florence leather market, an e-commerce purchasing platform where you can find the best leather products such as: suitcases, bags, shoulder bags, wallets and of course belts.

By registering on this site you can access the exclusive promotions and buy the products you want, being sure to buy leather treated by the best Florentine artisans.

Gift ideas

Makeup for sewing leather or eco-leather