Since they began crafting premium quality leather goods in the early 1990’s, the Romanellis have maintained an unwavering commitment to sourcing only the finest materials and diligently employing the best production methods to ensure the integrity of their products.
Never overly concerned with increasing market pressures to produce “more,” preserving an authentic interest in producing “better” has become somewhat of a family tradition that differentiates the Romanellis from the rest.
No shortcuts, no cost-cutting, no excuses; just the finest, most enduring leather goods that their skilled hands can possibly produce.
All Romanelli products are made with locally sourced materials and come to life in the family workshop, which is nestled away on a hillside just beyond Florence’s 13th Century city walls.
“Our products will only ever be as good as the raw materials we make them with…”
Luca Romanelli
Handsewn
Since the beginning, the Romanellis’ intention has never been to produce “more;” their only aim has been to produce “better.”
In practical terms, this translates to embracing technology and mechanization whenever appropriate, while avoiding it when convenience runs the risk of compromising quality or durability. It is for this reason that the Romanellis prefer handsewn construction, unless otherwise requested.
While this method certainly does add to the precious nature and beauty of their bags, there are actually a few practical reasons that inform this choice:
Firstly, hand-stitched seams are infinitely repairable: over the course of its lifetime, any handsewn Romanelli bag can be disassembled, repaired and rebuilt however often might be needed.
Repairability
I:
Handsewn stitching is more secure than machine stitching. When threads tear, machine-sewn seams come apart like a zipper.
Conversely, the Romanelli’s use handsewn saddle stitching on leather seams, which maintain their integrity even when a single stitch might tear.
Durability
II:
Stitching leather by hand calls for the use of an awl to punch holes for each stitch of a seam; this results in a series of cleanly cut holes that do not compromise the integrity of the leather.
By contrast, with each pass of the needle, sewing machines tear a small whole in the leather. Over time may very well become more pronounced with use.
No micro-tears
III:
Vegetable Tanned
Hides
All hides are sourced from local tanneries with whom Stefano and Luca Romanelli have preserved close working relationships for decades. The craftsmen at the helm of these businesses conserve a rich tradition of artisanal mastery in their own right.
Specialized in vegetable tanning, they employ traditional techniques that call for the use of tannins derived from plants, such as oak, chestnut, mimosas and other woody essences, to transform the hides harvested from cows, bulls and other animals into durable, premium quality leather.
Compared to other modern, chemical-based alternatives, vegetable tanning is more sustainable and gives the leather a natural and elegant appearance that patinas gracefully with age and use.
In short, Romanelli’s leather goods – whether made from cowhide, bull hide, or exotic leathers – only get better (and more beautiful!) with age.
To see other our leather variations
Tela Olona
Canvas
Romanelli products are designed to endure several generations of hard use, whether on international flights, weekend-long camping trips, or at the stables. Sourcing the right canvas is key to ensuring that each bag will rise to any challenge it encounters over the course of its decades-long lifespan.
Tela Olona is a robust and durable quality of sailcloth that is woven from 100% premium quality cotton in Tuscany.
Traditionally made for use in workwear, bags and other hardwearing items, tela olona also happens to be the same canvas quality used to make the sails of the Italian navy’s 3-mast Amerigo Vespucci training ship.
Nantucket
Golden
The Romanellis maintain an in-house inventory of tela olona in a variety of colors. We will be glad to assist you in selecting the color that best suits your next commission.
Faded sand
Slate
Blue
Olive Drab
To see other our color variations
