Leather

Italy is one of the leading countries in the production of artisanal leatherwear, shoes, handbags, and other leather accessories. Italian leather is durable, supple, and comes in a wide range of colors. The vast majority of Italian leather production is centered in the regions of Tuscany.
Italians have been working with leather for thousands of years and Florence has been famous for its leather production for centuries. Guilds were even formed in Medieval Italy to protect the secret techniques used to produce quality leathers. These techniques are still closely protected family secrets that are handed down from generation to generation.
To create an Accademia accessory, leather is cut into pieces and stitched together by hand. Such hand crafting or hand stitching techniques are passed down from a master craftsman to an apprentice and can take years to master. Thus, owning a handmade Italian leather bag is like owning a little piece of history.