Women Leaders are key to Italian Design Inspiration for Caterina Lucchi

Caterina Lucchi designer handbags, were designed to be a compliment to a personality that like to be a protagonist in her worlds – someone who was a mover and a shaker.  These characteristics are highlighted with  texture by mixing and matching sheraling, wool, washed leather, embossed leather and a polished vachetta.  The designers use natural earthy colors,  in fact there is a coupling of elements that which is a perfect mix between rugged and elegant. Easily identified with the Caterina Lucchi trademark – a super sized tassel that hangs from almost each one of the designs – or the Caterina Lucchi logo which is embroidered on the inside of the bags. In any case, these leather handbags are unmistakable! Simply look for a design that sends the message – Look at me! I was made in Italy!

What could be more attractive in washed leather than a Campomaggi bag? Only Caterina Lucchi captures the essence of the leather like Campomaggi and transforms it into a master piece with a feminine touch. These Italian leather handbags use the same material that goes into the internationally sought washed leather Campomaggi business bags, messenger bags and overnight totes. Yet the final result is distinctly for women only! Caterina Lucchi, started business in 1986.  It was obvious that  the masterminds behind Campomaggi had decided that it was time to created a second personality.  As appealing as their rugged appearance was, the designing fashion world wanted something different grace a female form.  Caterina Lucchi designer Italian leather handbags were the answer, finally a bag that the ladies could call all their own.

Catterina Lucchi washed leather designer handbags and tote bags are designed to utilize the much appreciated look of a leather that has a vintage appeal. The assembly of these Italian leather handbags is essentially the sames as the procedure used for their masculine counterpart. The bags are cut and assembled and then aged with their very own secret process. All of the hardware has an antique look to it which naturally compliments the colors and texture of the leather.

Perhaps one of the major distinguishing points between Campomaggi and Caterina Lucchi are the seasons. The Caterina Lucchi desiger bags are frequently appearing in new shades and variations of a theme. The bags for SS 2013 are already in the stores and you will find pastel colors and vintage inspired textures including soft shades of pink and biege – a stark contrast to last winters bold colors in green, rust and blue.

Are you one of those who Caterina Lucchi identifies as “creating her own world?”

An Italian leather handbag has the power to

chase those Monday Morning blues away – - – at least that’s what we like to think!

Just have a peek at Daniela who is smiling away with her newest creation!

This Pierotucci Italian leather handbags has been a favorite for years – it’s one of those classic styles that never seems to go out of fashion.  A rich soft grain embossed leather with silver colored hardware accents and it comes in two sizes.

Let us know what you think of our new Porselli colors?

I bet you are wonder if I wrote Porsche wrong – but I assure you I am talking about the E. Porselli ballet flats, handcrafted right here in Italy.  Same luxury feel, same wonderful comfort, same sporty look . . . but a whole lot easier on the credit card!

We have 6 new col0rs online – and we would like some feed back -

Did we choose the right colors in these Porselli Ballet Flats for SS 2013?

Is your Nappalan leather jacket really genuine leather?

The design of the jacket is gorgeous,  the fit is perfect and the color is exactly what you want but, when you look at the label and it says made with nappalan – and you begin to wonder “are you really getting genuine leather?”

The answer is a resounding YES.

Nappalan is the process that leather – more specifically suede leather – goes through to produce a finished product that has a soft, silky feel to it.

The word suede leather comes from the French phrase gant de Suède which literally means gloves from Sweden.  Apparently the Swedes were well known in the late 1800′s as some of the first to produce gloves out of a distinctly soft and specialized leather – thus this is why the French attributed this type of leather with the word Suède.   Suede is nothing less than the flesh side of the skin (in many cases lambskin though it can be calf or goat as well) that has been rubbed till it has a velvety nap to it.  Since suede leather is deprived of the more durable exterior skin layer, it is less resistant however the up side is that it is much softer than standard (“full-grain”) leather.

Nappalan is created  when this side has been treated with a special process.  The suede leather is finished with either a clear or colored coating that will leave either a matte, or in some cases a shiny look.  The final result is a piece of leather that comes close to a silk-like texture.  This flesh-side finishing process enhances the appearance, the texture and the use of the leather making it ideal for leather jackets.

We use nappalan for jackets that are both lightweight and where the design requires the final product to have a flowing effect. M. Galli, Pierotucci Master Leather Craftsman

Click on image to get a close-up of the Nappalan leather.

Nappalan is considered a “precious” leather and is superbly soft  often with a pigmented coating.  Note the lovely colors available for leather jackets for men and women with matte colors such as bordeaux, green and blu.  As for the care of this type of leather, it is expected that after a certain amount of wear, some of the surface finish will shed; leaving a distressed appearance. This is considered a normal and desired effect of Nappalan since it will enhance the suppleness of the skin even though it adds a rugged, natural appearance to the leather. It should be well noted that this type of  leather will not benefit from the application of any after care products.

From this . . . . to that . . . the transformation of an Italian masterpiece

In Florence there is a little tale they tell of Michelangelo when he was working on the marble masterpiece of “Davide”.  The story tells of how someone came in while the great sculptor was pulling out the piece of art hidden within the marble and the interloper made the comment that the nose was a little too big on this mammoth statue.  It then goes on to tell how Michelangelo  climbed the ladder with the hammer and chisel, made the movement and sounds of chipping away at the smooth white stone and then let a little marble dust float out of his hand.  At that point he then looked at the critical observer with a tilt of the head, as if to ask “and now?”  The person nodded their head – and said – “now it’s perfect.”

That is not a customization, but it should be a hint as to what you are asking when you request  the craftsman to change their work of art.  You are asking to transform an Italian masterpiece.

But, unlike Micheangelo, our craftsman understand that their masterpieces are meant to be used and that they need to be practical, functional and useful.

Our happy shopper A.S. from Switzerland came to us with an idea about a leather business bag from the Tucci Collection she had fallen in love with on our site. It was the size she needed, it had all the pockets she needed, it was the perfect “war bag” for her business.  BUT, she required some modifications so that she could easily carry all of her necessary items, and she wanted a quality bag, hand crafted with all the trimmings, but without the fancy designer label potentially putting off her prospective clients.

Step by step, the bag took shape. Our master craftsman, Marco Galli has been designing and making bags for most of his adult life, and he knows exactly what will work and what won’t. So for example, when A.S. said she wanted the shoulder strap to be attached at the sides, he immediately knew that this would not work for this kind of bag. It has two gussets and when the shoulder strap would be in use, then the shape and form of the bag would be contorted in such a way that would be ugly and unsafe for the design. So he suggested that the strap be attached to the back and this worked perfectly.

1)  We converted a masculine style bag, into a more feminine, versatile bag which oozes charm and sophistication at every angle.

2)  The top handle was eliminated.

3)  We took away the two shoulder straps and replaced them with rolled leather handles that were long enough for them to be slipped over the wrist for a more elegant and feminine carrying option.

4)  We added a much longer detachable shoulder strap which can be comfortable over one shoulder or used as a cross body bag.

The whole concept of the bag has gone from masculine to feminine with just a few tweaks and for only a nominal fee for the extra work and leather, A.S. has a bag that will take her to every business meeting for a very long time. She was absolutely thrilled, and took the time to write to us and praise us on a job well done.

Even fully loaded, as you can see in the picture I made, it holds its form beautifully.  Your craftspeople are to be congratulated on a great concept and job well done.

We try to accommodate every customised request, some we can do, others not. Pierotucci is one of the finest Florentine factories in Tuscany and they go that extra mile in trying to satisfy the needs of the customer, be it colour and type of leather, length of handles or monogramming.

When a description is all you got to go on

A photo is certainly what will catch your eye faster than a wordy or detailed title, but if you are going to buy you need to read in between the illusions in the title and the hype in the description.  A good product description is absolutely a must !  Of course there are those who will play with innuendos and double meanings in a description in order to hood you but then once you get your package – rip open the box and pull it out . . .  there is always that tell tale slump of the shoulders, turn at the mouth and general sense of disappointment because you “thought” you read one thing, the picture seemed to show you what you were reading yet the final product just doesn’t match up.

We were recently pulled into this drama while flipping through runway photos of the new FW 2013 lines of several top designers when we found a bag that we just adored.  Particularly appealing was the use of contrasting colors and the design was reminiscent of Bottega Veneta, Cosci (now defunct)  and Pierotucci.  We downloaded the photo to use in a blog post – similar to this one.  But then today – another photo (different angle) of the same product opened our eyes to the fundamental difference . . . and this is where a detailed ACCURATE description makes all the difference.

The second photo labeled the bag as a braided leather effect.  First off, braided leather? Is English their first language? When I checked out the Webster definition

Braided = Interlace three or more strands of (hair or other flexible material) to form a length

. . . and

Weave:   interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them.  When I was 9, I would braid my hair and it in no way resembled this Givenchy pocket clutch.

Close up of the embossed leather – effect weave.

The second thing was the use of the word “effect.”

Have a look at the photo and the truth comes out.  From the point of view of the above image it appears as if there are actually two different pieces being put together.

But alas, with the wonders of modern photgraphy AND with these up close images on the web sites I was actually able to see that the word effect was just another way of saying – embossed!  It was a printed weave effect on the bag, not even a true weave.  This purchase would have 100% resulted in one very unhappy shopper.

Looking at the detail you can even see that the paint job was a little haphazard – only making you really wonder how long the color would last with continual use of the bag.

From the photo I would have thought that the final product was closer to a Cosci leather handbag.  If you lool at the photo of the designer handbag below you can actually see the two different pieces.

Last year Toscanella Italian leather accessories came to the market with a weave using three different colors  in a weave to create a unique one of a kind image.  There are four different color patterns, using a terracotta chamios intertwined with 2 of the seven main colors of vegetable tanned leather.  Now this is a true weave and one where the colors will truly stand up to the test of time.

Close up view of the Toscanella three color weave.

One small error for Tuscany becomes one lasting memory for fashion

Only the innovative nature of the Italians can turn inexperience and a huge miscalculation into a fashion statement. And only those Italians from Tuscany knew how to make it a statement that would last through the test of time.

Wool has been a constant, thriving economic force in Italy as far back as the Etruscans, Romans and the Medici Family. It is a well known fact that the banking houses in Florence built their wealth on the wool industry. The Casentino Valley, where the Arno river starts its trek to Florence, was perhaps one of the largest suppliers of high quality woolen products in Tuscany.

In the late 1800’s they sought to further commercialize their natural resource, and a “mantelline per cavalcature” was introduced to the Florentine market. This was basically a thick, water resistant blanket used to cover, keep warm and protect work animals that hauled large loads.

Traditionally, this cover was made in a deep red – but due to an error when they mixed the chemicals to soften the wool, the color came out a vivid orange. Like most trends, it was a twist of fate that turned this rough cloth with its unique color, fashionable.

The “panno Casentino” was admired by illustrious names such as Baron Ricasoli and the opera composers Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. The result was that this brightly colored felted wool was fashioned into a double breasted jacket complete with a fox fur collar which became a very Italian symbol of wealth and prestige of the upper echelon.

A reputation that is still widely recognized in Italy today.

Close up of the panno Casentino with Italian leather accents

There’s no place Milano Fashion Week #mfw

Repeat after Dolce & Gabbaba – there is no place like home, there is no place like Sicily’s Catherdral of Monreale, there is no place like the glitter and sparkle of the Milano Fashion Week runway.

The FW 2013 collection of Domenico Docle and Stefano Gabbana make liberal use of the shiny sparkle in the mosaic displays in the  cathedral in Palermo.  The breathtaking use of rich gold and red highlight the warm tones in the cathedral lush art.  There designs recall the minute detail that goes into the creation of the glass mosaic artwork which literally cover the ceilings of the this and many other churches throughout Italy.

Using several icons from the Catholic church such as rosary beads, lace, saintly images, crowns and dazzling jewels D&G have created a FW 2013 show just after the surprising message from the Pope – his dismissal.

Have a look at some of their designs and compare them to actual mosaic designs – notice the similarities?

Sometimes you just fall in love with a detail

Sometimes, you don’t fall in love with the entire collection – just the details … and then sometimes you fall in love with the entire collection. Zac Posen, an American designer, has both the collection and the details to grab ones attention.  A mix between the Gothic beauty of Morticia from the Addams Family and the classic lines of a movie star from the black and white films.    In fact, the designer has defined the collection as “Maria Callas going to Argentina.”  Callas was a highly dramatic soprano opera singer and his designs would have graced her on the stage when she made her fame in the early part of the 20th century.

Have a look at the intricate darts on the back of this ladies jacket trimmed with a short fur collar, elegant and sophisticated . . .

Red Alert to Heart Attack Symptoms: 3 reason why you should investigate

For more than one reason February is associated with red and hearts – Pierotucci is embracing the challenge to show you something red every day. Just a little reminder to Go Red for Women and take care of your heart.

For the month of February, we at Pierotucci have been having a little fun playing with the color red – but we are doing it for a very serious reason. Our aim is to heighten awareness in an area where we women are notoriously ignorant… in fact one of  the reasons why you should investigate what the symptom of a heart attack are, is because most women just simply don’t believe it could happen to them.

It’s easy for women to assume “There’s no way it’s a heart attack!” and “That could never happen to me!” But the sad truth is, it could. (click for) answers to a few common questions that can help you determine what a heart attack feels like and what to do if you are unsure – just in case it does happen to you. Please red more now…

We are all stunned when we hear of a healthy, young woman being struck down by this number one killer of women!  We ladies know well, that women truly are a pillar of strength and probably no one is more convinced of this than a woman herself.  Hasn’t  history has always portrayed the woman as the strong silent type and how about that good old saying, a man’s work is from sun to sun but a woman’s work is never done?  - and this is becoming a problem and the second reason why women should learn more about heart attach,

 learning to ignore minor ailments or fatigue because that is what women are programmed to do.  quote taken from goredforwomen.org by Rekisha Hasrris.

Finally, perhaps one of the most important reasons of all why you should investigate the symptoms is because you maybe already too late to prevent a heart attack but you are still in time to limit the damage, it has been well documented that dismissing the symptoms of a heart attack can delay critical, life-saving actions.

 

So we invite you to  have some fun picking out your Valentine red leather accessory and take some action by checking out the above website for your health.

Red is definitely one of those colors that tradition has used for the heart and life but at the same time is a a breath of sexy, sassy and seductive for women. For those of you who aren’t into wearing your feminine wiles so blatantly  then how about the perfect red Italian leather accent to “stuzzica” (tease) their interest. Sometimes the simple act of keeping a delicious red leather wallet in your leather handbag will remind you that you are indeed  . . .  very , very special.

Become aware, check out the site http://www.goredforwomen.org to learn more about heart disease and symptoms of a heart attack.