You often ask us how and where these gorgeous Lavata soft aged leather bags are made. We would be happy to tell you their story and give you an insight into the process of making them. Both are interesting in equal measure.

TUSCANY - THE LEATHER DISTRICT

Our vintage leather bags are made in Tuscany. The first market survey on tanning activity in Tuscany is a report written in 1768, which shows that the production of hides and leather goods involved more than 20 towns in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, almost 1,000,000 pieces per year were produced, made of different leathers according to use. In 300 years, the district has not stopped growing, learning, changing, consortia, markets and technologies have sprung up, a fertile soil made of history, work, love, ancient technologies united with the most modern ones to still offer the best leather goods today.

the specialisation of the leather district guarantees the entire leather production chain (from tanning to the finished product), most italian leather and a good part of european leather is made in the district.

VEGETABLE TANNING

Vegetable tanning is the most recognisable and traditional conception, with prehistoric origins in Tuscany it has known a suitable terrain for development.
Tannin is the basis of vegetable tanning, it is found in trees and plants, and has been known for centuries. It is the tannin that gives the leather its unique characteristics, the leather ages and does not spoil, on the contrary, like a good wine it changes, with time the warm tones that the tanning has imprinted on the leather tend to reappear with use.
No two leathers will ever be the same, this makes each product unique.
Processing with natural tannins is also nature-friendly, no toxic substances are used.

LEATHER DYED

In the art of 'garment-dyed' or 'washed' the bag is sewn and assembled, complete with zips and accessories with greased but undyed vegetable crust leather. Only after the artefact is completed is the bag placed in a drum for dyeing and after this step the finished product obtains a warm and genuine colour. Even more vivid colour is achieved with a soft, mellow feel with the addition of further greasing and subsequent drying in a centrifuge. The end result is a gritty, soft handbag with unique, natural nuances that only Florentine manufacture and Italian leather can offer.