Pierotucci Kids: Leather Bags, Backpacks and Jackets for Kids

Handmade quality Italian leather handbags, jackets and accessories for kids  and toddlers

Perhaps nothing is more delightful than dressing your toddler, niece, nephew, godson or goddaughter in adorable clothing! Especially when you have the satisfaction of knowing that the selection is quality handmade products that use only the safest and best raw material. The selection of available pint size Italian leather accessories for children are growing every season to extend not only to fashionable cloth, jackets and shoes but to include tote bags, backpacks and messenger bags. Designed to fit smaller hands yet keep secure their largest treasures.

Playing dress up was part of every little girls growing experience, imitating her Mommy with a big girl handbag and high heel shoes. Today’s little girls are no different than yesteryear, always looking for that special something that makes them feel all grown-up. Perhaps though today’s kids are more practical because they are looking for not only something that “looks just like Dad’s” but that will hold all of their gadgets, books and traveling toys. As they grow older these bags from their childhood will remain as memories of the fun they had playing around.

Today’s kids fashion has evolved from infantile designs to include colors, textures and styles that are not only fashionable and trendy but convenient and practical. Be it kids luggage with bright colors and a multitude of pockets to bags for girls with sophisticated designs and multiple carrying options – fashion for kids is definitely on the upswing. Pierotucci has taken some of its more famous designs and restructured them to be suitable for toddlers, children and young boys and girls.

Starting with the FORTUNATA TOTE BAG, a huge success for the adult market this leather handbag has 4 different carrying options making it extremely versatile. This same model is now available in: Fortunata Baby. Re dimensioned for toddlers between the age of 2 – 12 years old this limited edition and totally unique leather tote bag for kids will bring a smile to any child’s face. A complete replica of the larger version, these bags for kids have a good luck charm, a removable and adjustable shoulder strap and each one is numbered – making them a one of a kind bag.

The options don’t stop here. Toscanella has opened the doors to bags for kids in 100% vegetable tanned leather in the traditional colors of Tuscany. These include leather tote bags and lightweight backpacks for kids made in genuine Italian leather and a durable canvas. However you put it Kids fashion and Made in Italy has never looked so chic as that which is emerging now in Italy from top designers. Look for kids luggage, bags for kids and backpack for kids with a touch of tradition and made with quality.

What’s worse than Friday the 13th in Italy?

Friday the 17th basically the equivalent to the anglo-saxon Friday the 13th. I always wondered what the Italians saw in the title of the film Friday the 13th – since for them its just another day …

It is said that the origins of  are found with the Roman number for 17 which is XVII. Now if you take those same symbols and rearrange them to make the Latin phrase VIXI, it means “I have lived”, which can also be interpreted as “I am dead.” Not a pleasant thought…  However some indications show that this number has had negative vibes even as far back as the Greeks.

In any case, throughout Italy you will find that they spend just a little bit more time making sure that there are no black cats around, that their good luck charms are nearby and that they avoid ladders, feathers and laying their hats on the bed.

As for us here at Pierotucci Leather Factory, we just keep a Fortunata Italian leather handbag by our side for the course of the day – and we are pretty sure we are warding off the evil eyes!

 

 

In Tuscany, we are begining to wonder who will bring the flowers

For the last couple of months in Tuscany it seems like its been February, March, April and now May Showers!  And according to the saying all this rain should have been producing flowers and not more showers.

There are those of us who suffer from allergies and normally sneeze our way through the colorful array that spring will display – but even us stuffy nose suffer-ers are beginning to long for those May flowers especially after almost four months of constant precipitation.  The truth is, we are all beginning to wonder when these Tuscan flowers are going to make their presence known

The best we have to offer at Pierotucci Italian Leather Handbag Factory is the colorful and fragrant CAMPO dei FIORI Collection on a soft and supple nappa lambskin leather, featuring a spray of pink, blue, yellow and purple colored buds looking like they just woke up under the Tuscan Sun.

Warmer temps in Tuscany have Italians day dreaming

There is no limit to the number of food dishes that the Tuscan’s enjoy as soon as the warmer temps announces the advent of spring and summer.  As amazing as it seems to me – an American ex-pat, living in Tuscany – I always marvel over the fact that certain dishes are not to be found year long on the menu.   You don’t eat gelato in the winter (who says!!) and you won’t find a long list of several other Italian favorites outside of the  designated seasons.  I have gone around the Pierotucci Leather Factory, asking our craftsman and women what dishes they are day dreaming about . . . I did this right about lunch time and as soon as the bell rang at 12:30 several bolted for the door!

First on our list of delicious meals for the summer has to be the sweet juicy cantaloupe melon with slices of cured ham – - – better known as proscuitto.  This sweet and salty mix is rather unique in the Tuscan menu, however they seem to find it very refreshing for the warm months.  Cantaloupes start to show up in the markets as soon as the temps rise, and as the summer progresses they are found more frequently.  This is actually one of my favorites to serve – - because its sooooo easy.

What do you think?  Is this one of those Italian summer dishes that you day dream about?

Italian leather Shearling Day Dream?

Italian leather jackets and fur coats, just day dreams? This black shearling #leatherjacket @pierotucci is our a answer.

What is the Cuoio Collection from Florence Italy?

It seems almost impossible that the same supple leather that is used to make leather jackets and gloves can be applied to create rigid boxes for holding pens, business cards, cigars and reading glasses.  But using the antique traditions of the Cuoio Collection that have been passed down from father to son for generations, skilled artisans can create a hard sided box like a piece of art from cuoio leather. This is a tradition which can easily be dated back to Caterina de Medici  when she apparently  made these leather boxes “all the rage” in the 1500′s in Paris when she included them in her trousseau.

These boxes are examples of  beauty and skilled craftsmanship,  evident in the simple lines, the seamless appearance and the smooth texture of the leather.  Perhaps the most stunning aspect of these uniquely formed leather goods is that they are produced in exactly the same manner as they were over 50 years ago – no high tech, no fancy computers and no synthetic material or colors. Though some would be apt to mix the work of “pelleteria” – that is the cutting, assembling and sewing of leather bags, wallets and belts with that of “cuoio sagomato” – they would most certainly be making a gross error. The raw material may be the same – but the similarities definitely stop there.

+ The unfinished leather is cut to the predetermined size and is then soaked in water.

+ Then one edge of the leather will be thinned out so as to make a cleaner seal where the sides lap over on the final product.

+ Depending on the size and shape of the final product, the wet leather is then molded to a wooden form which is commonly called a “last” and tacked on with small nails or tied so that the leather stays in place.

What is a last?  It is a shoemaker’s model for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.  But not only a shoemaker, it can be a model for shaping or repairing any type of leather article.

+ The leather is folded and smoothed over the form to make a snug fit and then the edges are glued together with a special glue mixed into a starch paste.

+ Once the leather is formed to the molds they are baked at low temps until thoroughly dried.

+ The now formed leather will be cooled and then the seals where they were glued together are washed to remove any excess glue. Any left over glue will alter the final color of the product.

+ Then the ropes are untied or the tacs are taken out and the dried leather is carefully pulled from the form. Excess leather is cut off at this time and now is the time when defining curves are added.

+ The leather case is now painted with the appropriate color. It is then smoothed with a heated roller and finished with a buffer until it shines.

+ The edges will then be sealed and the exterior of the object is painted and embossed with the Pierotucci name.

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.

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.

Cultural mistake

I never been one much into fashion myself – I come from Miami where all we really need to go out is a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, flip-flops and a 2 piece …. my experience certainly didn’t include Paris Fashion Week.  After college, my next stop was Europe on a student budget – so once again, shopping at Milan Fashion Week was not high on my list.

This little fact never really bothered me or even put me into serious ridicule.  My friends and cohorts were in the same situation as myself – we didn’t have the $$ to spend of fashion and we just didn’t keep up with the “Kardashians”.

However, after deciding to prolong my visit to Italy, my new environment (namely my ex-boyfriend) made it quite clear that my lack of knowledge (and my dismal fashion sense) were definitely a hindrance in our relationship.

This is not my him, however if mine had looked like this . . . note he is sporting a jacket in panno Casentino

Nothing made this ever so evident as when I was finally introduced to his “best friend.”  It was a bit of a big  ordeal, because his friend lived a couple hours away with his new wife and child.  And since this was definitely going to be a grown-up evening I was eager to put my best American foot forward.  I was prepared to highlight my playful nature and sense of humor.

It was a pleasant evening all the way around – nice people, good food (in Italy when do you not eat well?), stimulating conversation – tons of questions about the USA and the president (who at the time was Regan – I think)  - and a few fun moments cuddling the baby.

As we are walking out the door to start our long trek home (thorough woods and over the hills) I made a “humorous” that has haunted me ever since.  Teasing my then boyfriend, his wardrobe came up and I told his friends that they should try and convince him to spend a few dollars (the ones he saved not going to a restaurant but eating at their house) and change out his winter coat – to make my point, I showed them how the one he had on had all those little balls that aged wool gathers.

Three adult turned to stare at me as if I had just insulted the Pope himself…grown three heads….and turned a dramatic shade of purple …. all at the same time!

Perhaps I really should have known better.  Critic an Italian about their fashion sense … and then wouldn’t you know it?  The material that was used to make his coat  was the prestigious panno Casentino, prized for the curling tufs of wool on the surface – the very same which I had attempted to ridicule.

Note the rough texture – this is a distinct feature of panno Casentino.

It could be that since I was presently residing in the Casentino Valley, a small but very self sufficient area located approximately 45 km southeast of Florence they thought I would automatically know “la vita, morta e miracoli” of the area.  For example maybe I should have known that the valley at one time was extremely famous for its wool production, in fact in the 1800′s the sheep count was 86,000 – more than triple the number of residents in this Italian valley.  And … yes that’s right, maybe I should have known this was the birth place of the panno Casentino – a resistant and lightweight wool distinguished by these surface curls, the very thing that makes it water-resistant.  Not only that, but maybe I should have known that it is well recognized among the Italians as a status symbol!

What I can say is that I now know all this (and so much more)  - and even after 20 years, I have not forgotten that evening, the embarrassment and the many qualities of the panno Casentino.

In my attempts to tease this guy I wound up setting myself up to be the last laugh.

Pierotucci <3 the Mediterranean Diet for #goredforwomen

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.

It’s not summer yet – in fact here in Florence Italy we are surrounded by snow capped mountains. BUT. That doesn’t stop us from enjoying the delights of the Mediterranean diet of lots of fresh veggies, cheese, red wine and fresh baked bread.  It’s not easy to find a red, ripe tomato with crisp basil leaves to go on top … that will probably have to wait for the summer months but there is no end to the green veggies available in the wintertime here in Tuscany.  It seems like everyone’s garden is bursting with life even in the coldest months of the year.

Even the Mayo-Clinic staff have indicated that the Mediterranean Diet has some excellent side effects and not only for your heart.

Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011

Modern society has become so used to fast food alternatives, snacks filled with calories and unhealthy fats that fit into your leather handbag or leather messenger bag, sugar filled drinks . . . and let’s not forget  a lack of healthy exercise.  However it has been rightly said that the Mediterranean Diet is not a “diet” but

Rather, it is a lifestyle – including foods, activities, meals with friends and family, and wine in moderation with meals.  http://oldwayspt.org/programs/mediterranean-foods-alliance/what-mediterranean-diet

For over 20 years I have been living this lifestyle and what strikes me the most is that where in Italy eating, relaxing and being with family friends is natural and unforced – where sometimes it appears that in other zones of the world it is a struggle to make space for the private and personal side of life.  The people in the Mediterranean don’t have to think twice about taking care of themselves – it has been ingrained in their lifestyle since there were children.

What’s your favorite Mediterranean meal?

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