ITALY'S MASTERS OF LEATHER

Franzi's passion for the art of leather craftsmanship has been at the heart of the brand's activity since its very beginnings

Originally carpenters, the Franzi family first dedicates themselves to the creation of trunks entirely made of wood. Around the mid-19th century, the creative genius of Rocco Franzi leads to the conception of the ''Leggerissimo'', a trunk with a wooden structure, but covered n leather or canvas

The ''Leggerissimo'' trunk marks Franzi's early success and the evolution of the family business from carpentry to leather goods

Recognizing the quality of manufacturing by their transalpine competitors and aspiring to reach the same level gf mastery, the Franzi family brings the best French and Austrian craftsmen to Italy and introduces the most modern tanning techniques, learned in Germany,any 

Franzi's brilliant intuition is to merge the tradition of Italian leather craftsmanship, known for the robustness and durability of its creations, with the refined techniques developed by foreign brands in the latter half of the 19th century

Thus, in the second half of the 19th century, the Franzi family founds in Milan the first Italian district of luxury leather goods, known as the ''Milanese School''

Franzi is responsible for training an entire generation of artisans

Among the family's most notable apprentices was Guccio Gucci, founder of the iconic brand bearing his name

It is Guccio Gucci himself who, in 1921, opens his first store in Florence under the sign: ''Guccio Gucci, già impiegato nella Valigeria Franzi'' (Already employed at Valigeria Franzi)

Oreste Franzi, Felice's son, later introduces further innovations that advanced not only the brand, but also the entire luxury leather sector

Thanks to his many travels and stays in China, Japan and Singapore, he acquires new techniques for trunk construction and leather treatment

This knowledge enables Oreste to open, in 1912, the first European factory entirely dedicated to vegetable tanning: the Conceria Monzese

A pioneer and visionary, Oreste Franzi demonstrates a concern for sustainability as early as the beginning of the 20th century, aiming to replace chemical tanning with new, less polluting techniques

It was within this workshop that the brand's  emblematic material, the iconic ''Cuoio Franzi'', is created, recognizable by its distinctive organic texture

Even today, Franzi artisans preserve the most refined leather working techniques

These ensure the perfection of every creation, proudly and passionately continuing the great Italian leather tradition