Shopping

11
July
2018

Five good reasons to prefer a leather bag

We could list even more, but in this article we have chosen to be short, so we will give you “only” five good reasons to prefer the leather bag. Do not forget that leather bags are among the accessories designed to last longer in your closets, are affordable with the advantage of making us always look good. In addition, a leather bag has a unique, unmistakable scent that no other accessory has.

Quality, versatility and durability are the main advantages of leather fashion accessories: keep this in mind in your next shopping tour!

 

  • Chameleon

The leather bag goes well with everything from an evening dress to simple jeans and t-shirts. The beauty of the leather is that it is versatile and suitable for many different occasions. And it’s like wine: it gets even better with time, giving that vintage touch that is so classy.

 

  • High quality at an affordable price

Today the bags, backpacks and wallets made by leather craftsmen have prices that are accessible for everyone. Moral: you do not need to spend a fortune to bring home a quality product and make you look great!

 

  • Capacious and resistant

Leather is a durable, robust and wear-resistant material. It is a faithful bag, suitable for both work and leisure, made of an extremely elastic material and therefore able to contain more personal items and support the weight of everyday life without suffering damage.

 

  • Enemy of the stains

Genuine leather is washable and resistant not only to time but also to stains. So, do not worry, if ice cream or a little ‘cocktail will pour on the bag during a more cheerful evening…. Your leather bag will remain the faithful companion of all time, without stains or unwanted halos.

 

  • Hypoallergenic and “green”

Leather is hypoallergenic par excellence because it does not have a porous fiber; therefore, it can not accommodate powders or mites. So, if you choose a bag made with this material, it will be very difficult to find it dusty at the bottom of the drawer or closet after a season of downtime. Another noteworthy detail is that leather is processed according to regulated processes and respecting the environment, and the bags, like other fashion accessories, are produced with “recycled” leather from cattle for slaughter. So there is no waste or unnecessary sacrifice.

20
June
2018

Quick guide to choosing the perfect wallet

Like a mobile phone, the wallet is one of those objects that we always have with us. For this reason, it should be a practical accessory, rather elegant and in tune with our style.

Let’s see together some advice to choose the most suitable wallet, the one that best suits our daily use and that can make us look good when we take it out from the bag or from the pocket.

Identify the ideal model

It is not easy to find the perfect model, but the basic advice is to privilege three things: capacity (based on the necessary content), simplicity and practicality.

 

Be aware of your style

Having clear ideas always helps, this is certain. Even for the choice of the wallet, it is good to follow your own style, wondering if a more sporty and casual model or a more classic and elegant one is better.

 

Quality materials

 

The most classic and qualitatively good is certainly the leather wallet, although synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, denim or aluminum are increasingly common. Other more sought-after materials, such as crocodile and python, are more in vogue for men, while silk and velvet are decidedly for women. The leather wallet, however, always wins: suitable for both work and professional situations, an evergreen that never goes out of fashion.

 

Having clear what to put in the wallet and what not

Four things must surely come into the wallet: documents, money and credit / debit cards and photos of the dearest people. The rest, such as fidelity cards, and receipts can be put in a clutch or in a separate container. Super slim wallets, for example, are comfortable if we travel with few documents.

 

Better an easily accessible model, with a practical closure

The safest in women’s wallets is undoubtedly the zipper: it guarantees a comfortable and protected closure, a defense against distracted hands. The “bi-fold” model is instead the most widespread, classic and practical for men.

 

Choose a color that you really like and do not get tired of

 

Those looking for something more classic and natural are usually more oriented towards a black or brown bovine leather wallet. However, the color is a very subjective detail and, if excessive, is likely to make us stew. The colorful or fancy wallets on the market are not lacking, they are very youthful and lend themselves to a more frequent change.

13
June
2018

The history of leather tanning

With the term tanning, we mean those operations to which the skins of animals are subjected in order to make them imputrescible and transform them into leather, in practice, in order to preserve them and work them.

Tanning is one of the oldest activities, which dates back to prehistory, when men realized they could use the skins of the hunted animals to cover themselves and protect themselves from the cold and rain.

The only problem was that the material tended to decompose after a few days…

The origins of tanning

Perhaps by chance, the man realized that if the skin had been exposed to the smoke of the fire or immersed in water, then it lasted longer. This was the discovery of “aldehyde tanning” (of which the smoke of fresh woods is rich) and “vegetable tanning” (contained in wood and in all plants).

Aldehydes, tannins and lime (the limescale of the stones due to the effect of heat is transformed into lime, which with water forms lime off) are substances that still today, even if with different methods, are part of modern tanning processes.

From artisan practice to industrial activity

 

For many centuries the tanning technology had remained substantially unchanged, until the second half of the 19th century, when the drum was introduced, a machine consisting of a cylinder rotating around its axis, which marked the transition from craft to industrial activity. Water, skins and chemicals were introduced into the drum.

The mechanical action of rotation greatly favors the penetration of the products inside the skin; therefore the tanning process, which previously lasted many months, turned out to be quite accelerated.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the real turning point took place with the introduction of chrome tanning, – thanks to the tanning capacity of the trivalent chromium compounds – which is able to bind permanently to the skin making it imputrescible.

Various types of tanning processing

 

Before going on to the actual tanning operations, which tend to give the leather the greatest resistance, the maximum impermeability to water and the maximum porosity to air and water vapor (sweat), there are some preliminary steps for the preparation of leather, the so-called “beamhouse” operations: soaking, liming, unhairing and scudding, deliming and bating, pickling.

To get even more in detail and know what are the various types of tanning, we mention a few:

  • Chrome tanning, this mineral makes the leather particularly soft.
  • Aniline tanning, a type of tanning based on the use of aniline that gives the products a particular luster and color transparency.
  • Vegetable tanning, a process consisting in transforming skin into leather with the use of peel of plants that produce natural tannic juices in water; this treatment is carried out in pits and serves to obtain sole leather.
  • Mineral tanning, made with chromium or aluminum salts, which produces light, soft and tough leather.
  • Mixed tanning, a vegetable tanning in pits, tanks or vats and then drums, with the use of tannic extracts more concentrated than the juices derived from the peels.

 

16
May
2018

The beauties of the San Lorenzo market

It is difficult to think of describing the many beauties of the San Lorenzo market in an article of a few lines but we try, because this exhibition space deserves at least one visit, if you are in Florence, and is one of the most particular and typical places where you can meet flavors and genuinely Tuscan perfumes, shopping and having an exceptional setting for your last selfie!

 

The two sections of the market

 

The San Lorenzo Market is exactly divided into two parts: one inside, known as the Central Market and dedicated mainly to food, shops, restaurants and fast food, and the other outdoor section, organized around to the Central Market building, a glass and cast-iron structure built towards the end of the 19th century by Giuseppe Mengoni, the architect of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan.

 

A taste experience

 

Fruits and vegetables, bread and pastry, chocolate and honey, fresh fish, fried meatballs, meat and sausages, cheese, pizza and fresh pasta, wine shop, lampredotto, sorbets and ice creams … All the activities of the Central Market are conducted by artisanal traders that have in common the passion for their profession. Going from here is a real dip in tradition, in good Tuscan and Italian cuisine, with its quality ingredients, a place for gourmets who want to experience a unique, tasteful experience.

It can be a good idea, between a museum and a church, to put on your march the visit to the San Lorenzo Market, perhaps at lunchtime or even for dinner, so as to taste the delicacies of Tuscan cuisine (they are about 500 seats available inside) and let yourself be tempted by the various tastes.

 

The paradise of the skin

 

Outside, among the streets that wind around the covered market, you can indulge in admiring leather objects, mostly ceramic artifacts and other local products, clothes, scarves, small ornaments, stationery objects, magnets and all kinds of cadeau to take home as a souvenir of your tour in Florence. But do not forget that at the San Lorenzo Market you can find many leather goods to complete your favorite look: bags, clutch bags, belts, wallets, jackets and jackets. The local craftsmanship here is really on display, it does not seem a gamble to call it “the leather’s paradise”.

 

You just have to choose

 

Allow us a tip: if you are willing to make serious purchases, first make a list of what you are looking for, if you need to give gifts, and allow yourself enough time to take a look at the various stalls before deciding what to buy, and plan a “extra budget” for a last deal, just for you!

There are so many options to choose from and without spending too much money, you will certainly find very tasty souvenirs for you and your friends. This part of the San Lorenzo Market is open every day, from Tuesday to Saturday. Enjoy your visit!

9
May
2018

New: Mattia bag

His name is “Mattia”, is decisive, lively and vocated to work. In the iconic aged leather, the “Mattia” bag is a mix of practicality and femininity (it seems almost a paradox, given the name!). In fact, it combines the elegant exterior structured design with perfect organization and internal capacity.

It is a generous and capable bag, with many internal and external pockets, soft and versatile for the busy woman who can not and does not want to give up anything.

 

It is a bag that does not set limits

 

This bag has no limits: it is equipped with a long detachable shoulder strap, can be carried by hand, arm or shoulder strap for a stylish and exclusive look, or for a more casual outfit, in jeans and sneakers. It is available in various colors: dark blue, brown, leather, red, black, dark brown and dark green. The vintage effect of leather and buckles makes it even more interesting.

What kind of woman is wearing the Mattia bag?

 

The woman who chooses “Mattia” is a stubborn worker, a very busy woman, who juggles many appointments and must always have everything she needs: the cosmetic bag to make up her makeup, the agenda to update the commitments of the week, the smartphone and its charger, the tablet, the bottle of water, a snack and all you need to face an intense day of life and work. Being always in a rush, it is congenial a loyal and spacious bag, which certainly will not disappoint, because “Mattia“ always finds a space for a new addition!