Oh dear Florence, city of beauty.
With its cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and art that is of most importance to our world.
The Tuscan city that is like a work of art itself, with every corner revealing a new masterpiece.
For centuries Florence has been at the forefront of fashion and leather tradition.
It's no wonder that this city excites us and has inspired countless artists, writers and dreamers throughout history.
Its been told that most of the Florentine art is hidden behind the facades of these majestic elegant medieval houses.
Almost nobody knows about and they keep it for themselves.
Imagine that there are people living like that.
You could think that its not right to keep it away from the public, but you could also argue that for some things its better that its been kept hidden to preserve it for later generations.
Nowadays Florence is flooded by tourists taking its toll on the city of Renaissance.
Of course it brings opportunities but so many people puts pressure on the city and it gems.
Let's hope this will not be as severe as the 1966 flood of the Arno river that killed people, damaged and destroyed millions of masterpieces of art and rare books...
I just returned home from one of our frequent trips to Florence and Naples, visiting our ateliers.
While sipping an Italian espresso, I had an interesting but also worrying conversation with one of our Neapolitan glovers.
We talked about it before but the art of traditional glovemaking is slowly disappearing.
There are still a handful of very good and skilled glovemakers in the world mainly in UK, France and Italy.
The reason why we transferred many years ago our production from Amsterdam to Italy is that every important aspect is present.
From sourcing the best hides of Ethiopia, the best leather dying in Napoli to the eye for detail in the traditional crafting skills.
Our glovers are working for generations with traditional and exceptional techniques, machines and skills.
Resulting in an unmatched knowledge and refinement.
But things have been changing in glovemaking land and Corona definitely speeded things up.
2 main problems occur at the moment:
- difficult to produce and buy thin a-grade gloves leather, and then I mean the very thin 0.3mm/0.01" skins in strong, stretchy, stable and balanced quality.
- it's hard to find young craftsmen/women who are able to work the traditional way using special machines and techniques.
Glovers are making thicker gloves out of thicker hides, lined with silk for more 'comfort'.
Brands focus more on pricing and new designs.
While struggling they are producing what most people want.
Next to our mission to make you feel a little more elegant we are dedicated keeping the traditional craft of thin unlined leather gloves alive.
Gloves like they used and supposed to be.
“The unlined glove is the essence of well-designed, elegant hand-wear: simple.
Yet it is this very simplicity that hides an incredible complexity.”
-Ines
Bob, son of Ines
The hidden secrets of leather gloves making
