A story to tell..
There is a universe to be told behind the material of leather, the basis and protagonist of many, multiform possibilities in fashion. A story full of surprises that still today has not ceased to amaze, a story that goes back generations and has been consolidated into an entrepreneurial reality capable of guaranteeing the highest standards in the production process.
Tuscan leather goods
Italian leather goods are a guarantee of excellence in the world, and among the various tanning districts of the boot that Tuscany has a history and reputation particularly prestigious. The region is the beating heart of Italian leather goods production, especially high quality and luxury. Even today in this area coexist the most important international brands in the sector and small artisan workshops family-run, of which we of Florence Leather Market are proudly part and that today we want to tell… We are ready to immerse you in an exciting journey into our story. A real experience able to accompany consumers and lovers of this material within a framework of beauty, history, art and charm of the processing of raw materials.
The tradition
The beginning of the history of Tuscan leather goods refers to two districts considered part of the Italian manufacturing tradition: The so-called “distretto del cuoio” that extends between several municipalities in the province of Pisa and Florence and the district of Santa Croce sull’Arno considered the true flagship of this manufacturing industry. It was in particular the craftsmen of this area that proved to be very skilled in the processing of leather, facilitated by the presence of the river and the forest reserve that surrounded the town, indispensable for the production of vegetable tannins with which leather becomes leather. The master craftsmen of the Florentine ‘cuoietto’ still work their products by hand, and make beautiful handbags, practical backpacks, but also accessories for tobacco, elegant wallets, and footwear.
The “Florentine Cuietto”
Centuries have passed but still today Florence and Tuscany have maintained a flourishing activity in the processing of leather. In addition to the obvious use of these materials in the clothing, accessories and footwear sector, leather binding of small desk objects, jewellery boxes, smoking and gaming items is very common. The artistic binding of leather objects is performed with an ancient technique that requires great skill. The technique is called “Florentine artistic leather processing” The object is covered with layers of leather very thin and light so that it adheres perfectly to the surface to be covered. Once covered, the artisan proceeds to the operations of decoration with applications of other material, with inlays or with engravings to fire. Despite the mechanization of some steps, the bulk of the operations is still performed by hand, with maniacal care and punctual quality control on each model. Even the stylistic proposal tries to remain consistent with the rustic-chic soul that has always distinguished the Tuscan leather goods, while trying to renew itself to keep up with the trends and conquer an increasingly wide audience.
Florence Leather Market offers a wide range of stylistic proposals made by our master craftsmen, in full respect of the great centuries-old history of craftsmanship that has made Tuscany famous all over the world.
