Outfit

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
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.

14
August
2021

All about the suitcase, history and origins of this travel bag

Made of cardboard, fabric, wood or even iron, the suitcase, although different from the one we are used to today, seems to have debuted early in our lives.

The *suitcase**, the origins*

The first accessory of a suitcase is dated, in fact, XIV century B.C. and was found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Already then, about fifty boxes with fabrics, cosmetics and various everyday objects that would serve the famous character of Egypt who was preparing to make his journey to the afterlife. And it is from the journey, between the medieval fiefs, in the sea and land movements of the Greeks and Romans, in carriage at the beginning of ‘800 or for tourism in ancient cars, that arises the need to transport their material goods such as clothes, jewelry, shoes.

The large dimensions that characterize the ancient suitcases, called trunks, were also used as beds on which to lie to sleep, during the tiring crossings on the merchant ships.

Travelling, a few years ago in fact, meant moving slowly and, therefore, there were no quick and easy trips. In the middle of the 19th century, however, things began to change, technology was making giant strides, the means to go from one place to another began to be faster and the journeys were short. This led to a decrease also of the objects to carry with him and therefore to the dimensions of the suitcases.

The evolution of suitcases

The train journey spread quickly in this period and the suitcases from bulky and heavy trunks became bags, less rigid and easily transportable. With the cars, then, there was a further step forward, the luggage was reduced again to allow you to easily find space in the trunk of the car.

With air transport, which imposed limits on weight and space, there was a further turning point for suitcases. In 1950, first in America and then all over Europe, the capacious but lighter leather suitcases, perfect for boarding by plane, went crazy.

From the leather suitcase, we then passed to the propylene one and, after that, to the trolley, the luggage par excellence of the trip.

Florence Leather Market boasts a large collection of travel bags, made of real leather, made in Italian laboratories and by skilled and experienced artisans, come and take a look!

21
June
2021

Belts for men, a world to discover and understand

The universe of male belts is wider than you think, in fact there are various types of this accessory. Meanwhile we make a main distinction between two macro categories.

Men’s formal and casual belts

The sports belts.

The sports belts are usually characterized by a rather large buckle, also are higher, (it goes from 3.8 to 4.5 cm., the higher a belt is, the more informal it will be), and are usually made of opaque and rough leather. When leather is characterized by these peculiarities it is because the outer layers of the material are used in its production.

The formal belts.

The formal belt is mainly recognizable by its buckle. As a rule, the formal belt buckle is classy, fine, elegant and square, smaller in size than the sports one.

The formal belt strap never exceeds 4cm, and the leather or the material used is characterized by a shiny and very soft touch.

Usually the formal belts are produced in leather, the most prestigious ones in full grain leather.

The most common shades of formal belts are brown and black, but you can also buy blue and gray, all colors can be easily combined and very sober.

Qual è la cintura più giusta?

Not all belts are suitable for different physicality so it is good to know which is the one that suits your body most before proceeding with the purchase.

To find out if the belt you use is usually the right one for you, you will need to take a meter and calculate how far is the most used hole and the end of the buckle. The measure that will come out will be the measure of your waist. To this measure you will need to add approximately 15 cm, and so you will know what is your correct size to buy a belt that fits perfectly to your body.

A curiosity about belts is what etiquette says in reference to the latter. In fact, according to the etiquette, you should not use a hole at random, but the male belt must always be fastened to the third hole that is the central one.

The evergreen of men’s belts

The belts that a man must absolutely have in his closet are indicative of three types:

Casual chic belt: the belt suitable for jeans. This accessory must normally be about 4 cm high, and is in dark or very sober colors, suede leather or leather. Being a belt tending to be sporty and suitable for everyday use, you can also opt for belts textured or otherwise decorated. The buckle will certainly be larger than those of formal belts and maybe even different shapes from the square;
Formal evening belt: the formal belt as above must not exceed 4 cm in height. The formal belt is not decorated but simple, sober, glossy and in dark or black or brown colors. The buckle must also be small, must not give too much in the eye and rectangular in shape;
Braided belt: the braided belt is an evergreen of the summer season, and also it must not exceed 5 cm in height. Being a summer belt can also be lighter colors, such as cream, cream, or beige, the important thing is that it matches your outfits perfectly.

Discover all our belts for men, take a look here.