Artisans

Passion strikes in a variety of ways. For former cafe-owner Rossano Pergolesi, it struck by spending time at a friend's handbag workshop. This is where he realized what he really wanted to do: design. In 1990 he started Pergolesi by Tosca with his wife, Franca, in his hometown of Monte San Giusto, Italy. Together, they manufacture minimalistic handbags using techniques that highlight the premium quality of the leathers that they work with.
Rossano, a long-time appreciator of the arts (Tosca is a nod to his family's musical roots and one of his favorite operas) prides himself on maintaining a commitment to "Made in Italy" craftsmanship. His workshop is like a trattoria, a place where you can order exactly what you want, resting assured of getting the very best in locally-sourced materials.

Try to find the Filomeni family's woven bags at your local department store and you’ll come up empty-handed, but that’s exactly the lure of this little known brand. Handwoven leather purses, shoes and even furniture have been coming out of this family business in Italy's Le Marche region since 1982, when part-owner Francesco Filomeni’s parents first founded the company.
Today, the handbags and bracelets created by Francesco and his siblings, Sabrina and Massimiliano, are marketed primarily by word-of-mouth. Meticulously hand woven from 150-200 meters of leather string, each satchel has a one-of-a-kind beauty that (literally) stops people on the street. It's a testament to the skill, patience and quality with which they are made, carving out a special niche in this Italian family’s business.

Veronica was born and raised in the Marche region of italy, where the origins of careful craftsmonship are ingrained in its long-standing tradition of italian luxury manufacturing.
While she was was always drawn to fashion, Veronica’s truly life-changing moment came when she built up the courage to seek out and ring the doorbell of an icon in the millinery industry, with the goal of learning from the best.
Veronica now runs her own atelier, her innate creativity piqued by everything from swallows in flight to actresses of the 1930s silver screen. Today, she creates custom hats for elegant and bold women all over the world. She personally creates each hat by hand, and the entrepreneurial spirit and passion for her life’s work is infused in every stitch and fold.

When the economic crisis hit Italy in 2008, more than 50% of the textile industry in Biella, “The City of Wool,” folded. As mills closed one after another, the Sasso family united forces behind their family-run business, determined to weather the storm. Rather than skimping on quality to cut costs, they remained focused on producing top-of-the-line scarves and stoles as they had for decades.
Today MA.AL.BI is a reference point in the fashion industry and the maker behind many of the world’s top private labels. Utilizing only the finest yarns spun from the highest quality cashmere, wool, silk, linen and cotton, their collection of scarves and wraps comes in literally hundreds of colors and unique blends. “We start with the yarn and end with packaging and delivery of the final product,” notes Vittorio, a third-generation family member. “Every phase of production happens right here in Biella.”
Rossi & Rei’s bespoke scarves are so luxuriously soft you’ll immediately feel the difference, and by supporting genuine Italian-made products, you’ll be making one too.

It was 1965 when Vittorio Spernanzoni first set up a tiny workshop under his name in his hometown of Morrovalle, a place already well-known for its leather and footwear. Having been working as a shoemaker since the end of World War II, it wasn't long before Vittorio's expertise attracted clients outside of his local community. By 1975 he was regularly exporting his collection of shoes and boots throughout Europe, and ten years later he moved into an even bigger workshop so he could continue designing and making his ready-to-wear line by hand. Today, Vittorio runs the business alongside his three sons, Lorella, Enrico and Roby. Though the shop has grown, the commitment to quality and highly-skilled craftsmanship has not. In 2015, to celebrate its 50 years of business, the Spernanzoni family opened a school for young people who want to lean the art of making handmade shoes to pass on his skill to the next generation of artisans.

Le Panier is not made up your average Italian artisans. The founders believe in shaping the beauty of each product by hand and communicating the positive energy of their serene and uplifting environment through each handbag. Their company is full of modern artisans who infuse youthful energy, harmony, and skill to each product made especially for you. And their dedication to fine craftsmanship has paid off. In just three years, their demonstration of fine mastery in leather work has gained the attention of distinguished luxury brands throughout Italy. Le Panier now produces leather handbags and accessories directly for these Italian designers, and we’re happy they’ve found another home producing one-of-a-kind accessories specifically for the Rossi & Rei woman.

Fabrizio Verniani began working at the age of 14 in his uncle's bottega on the Ponte Vecchio. Growing up around goldsmith shops, which at that time were full of artisans, he stopped to see their art and learn their trade. Fabrizio learned the ancient art of chiseling and molding gold, and over the years, he transferred this treasured technique it to the production of the shells of clutches, specializing in rigid bags.
Taking advantage of his experience in 1970, together with his friend Giulio Benvenuti, Fabrizio Verniani founded their company, which immediately centered around the production of luxury evening bags. In 1971, they designed and manufactured fruit-shaped small bags, entirely chiseled by hand, which immediately became a success. In 1973 the company became Verniani Fabrizio, and American department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus began buying up their luxury evening bags. In 1991, the company began collaborating with international brands such as Chanel and Dior, that chose to make use of completely Italian products.
Alongside Fabrizio Verniani's experience, his son Andrea Verniani's passion and work has been added for the past 30 years. This father and son team manages and administers the family business, focusing on sample collections. After more than 45 years of activity, Fabrizio Verniani has decided to recreate his own collection in collaboration exclusively for the women of MILANER

Raised in the hustle and bustle of her parents’ leather workshop in Italy’s Marche region, Desirèe’s earliest memories span naps in the textile bins as a toddler, to doing her homework seated next to craftsmen cutting, dyeing, stitching and assembling handbags. Learning the trade came naturally, so did the decision to join the family business straight out of high school.
Previously focusing on private label production, Desirèe has recently taken the company from behind-the-scenes into the spotlight with the launch of her own brand, Desirèe Lupi. Made to guarantee both quality and the smallest carbon footprint, Desirèe's life-long passion and authenticity are exactly what make her bags so extraordinary.

Alberto and Valerio, an uncle and nephew duo, founded Calzaturificio Civitanovese in 2013 with the goal to redefine the rules of exclusivity. Working in the luxury shoe manufacturing space since he was a teenager, Valerio wanted to combine the craftsmanship skills he had perfected through his years of experience with premium materials and modern manufacturing technologies. The result is Calzaturificio Civitanovese, expertly-crafted sneakers perfected for your unique feet. Powered by a select team of artisans using the best Italian suede and leather, Calzaturificio Civitanovese shoes feel light, durable, and are completely customizable to ensure a one-of-a-kind pair.

At the age of 12, Maria Pia Tomassini was too short to reach the small hand-operated sewing machine, and stood on top of a fruit crate to learn and hone her craft. As her craft blossomed into a skill unmatched by her peers, Tomassini’s husband, Piero, believed in her abilities and vision so strongly, that together they opened a small business in 1974, and never looked back.
With the torch now passed to the next generation, the company is run by Tomassini’s daughter, Mara. The business has carefully grown from its humble roots to become one of the most highly respected names in Italian knitwear manufacturing. The company represents the apex of old world technique combined with advanced knitting technology and carries the pride and care of generations focused on producing the best knit possible.

The traditional breeding of silkworms in our area began in the early years of the last century. The production has since then flourished into numerous textile companies for the production of silk and cotton fabrics.
In the beginning of her career, Laura Milani began with her first handmade collection in a small workshop. Within the last 60 years, her passion for tradition and a taste for modernity has flourished into a successful business which bases its research on the fabric’s quality and the continuous investigation of customer preferences. These qualities have made Milani Milano a well-known export brand known for its uniqueness all over the world. The attention to the smallest detail, with the combination classic and and stylish weaves, make an exclusive product that completely represent our understanding of "Made in Italy".

After working for 20 years in the family business, specializing in the production of straw bags, the Pancani brothers decided to realize their own business idea. Relying on their experiences and their aptitudes, in 2006, they opened Roberto Pancani in Florence, in the world's production center of high-end fashion handbags. Their skills and experience lead them to deal with two specific areas within the company: Fabrizio is in charge of creative, design and research of innovative materials to bring in the production process;
Roberto takes care of the management and administration, and of the relationship with customers.

Michele Petecchia’s family has been manufacturing luxury shoes since 1971. In 1993, Michele decided to open his own atelier with his wife. They began their focus on men's shoes, but over time, a women's line was introduced and they started working exclusively with vegetable-tanned leather that they produce themselves in their atelier. This type of leather has a vintage look to it, and over time it acquires a special type of beauty. The atelier now employs a small team of master artisans who are proud of each piece they release. The entire team believes that their work is nothing but a reflection of their experiences and their lives.

The brand Spelta was born in Milan in 1967 but the craftsmanship tradition from the family starts well before the birth of the brand: In 1957, a suburb of Milan called Parabiago with a tradition in footwear manufacturing, iconic loafers were hand-made, establishing a product symbol of the quality of the Made in Italy. In the early 80's, the Spelta hand stitched “ballerina” shoes become a real cult phenomenon in Milan, thanks to the masterful mix of attention to style and craftsmanship, and the constant and direct relationship the family keeps with the fashion world. To further the company's growth in the 80's and 90's, Spelta Milano decided to diversify its production and introduced additional models of women's shoes. The brand has been able to maintain its identity focusing on classic but unique designs, with attention and care to the quality of the materials and finishes of the product. Over the years, the Spelta “Ballerina” shoe has always been presented like the brand’s “testimonial”. Today, Spelta's ‘Ballerina” shoes are made with the traditional Goodyear stitching (stitch and lapel of the upper) and they continue to keep their family's company thriving.

Growing up, Massimo Melchiorri's father was one of the most renowned shoe designers in Italy during the 70's and 80's. Following in his father's footsteps, Massimo spent his entire career designing for the biggest luxury brands. In 2017, he decided it was time to start making shoes that carried his own name. With the combined expertise, taste, and know-how that he and his father had worked so diligently for decades to acquire, Massimo has been able to carry on the family legacy of becoming a celebrated Italian shoe designer. Today, he and his father live in the Marche region. This unique place with its incredible cultural heritage is the source of their inspiration. Massimo aims to mix the old with the new: his unique upbringing and new cutting-edge techniques deliver incredibly unique pieces of art that women all over the world love walking in.

Prosperine, a footwear factory based in Subbiano, Arezzo, was founded in 1970 by Giancarlo Cerofolini and Mirella Prosperi. In the 1990s, their children Marco and Laura joined the company, and have become the commercial and marketing soul of Prosperine. "We produce high range footwear for women and girls," explain the owners. "In particular, we are specialized in 'sack' ballerina flats, an item for which we are in high demand. We are organized to carry out the entire production process in-house, but we also employ some trusted subcontractors operating within 20 km of our headquarters."
The company produces footwear for many of the top international luxury brands but also produces its own “Prosperine” brand with lines of women’s and girls’ footwear that are distributed throughout Italy and in the principal international markets. "Our style office is perpetually engaged in the research and study of new trends and materials," the owners continue. "Our strong points are the quality and elegance of the design combined with the artisanship of the product."

Gabriele Di Nardo Di Maio and his wife Amalia started Nadir in 1979. Year after year, little by little, they built a versatile and expert team of master leather artisans who have collaborated with the biggest names in the luxury industry, specializing in every aspect of handbag making. They believe in upholding the highest degree of professionalism in every aspect of their work and their rigorous approach has paid off. The Val Vibrata area in Abruzzo has for decades been one of the cradles of craftsmanship in Central Italy, and the Di Nardo Di Maio family has always contributed to a strong sense of community in this region by regularly sharing and collaborating on projects with its other manufacturers.

Benito Mochi and Rosa Dichiara are the husband wife duo behind Di Chiara Rosa Hats. The company was founded in 1985 after the incredible experience that Benito and Rosa had overseeing luxury hat manufacturing in the world-renowned district of Montappone, which is the world's capital of luxury millinery. After almost forty years, they have grown the company to what it is today by acquiring the most visible international customers, and developing their own direct-to-consumer line selling their hats all over the world. Benito and Rosa have passed their expertise down to their children, Lauro, Annalisa and Fiorella, who are carrying the torch with pride for their family's traditions while experimenting with new models and techniques.