WHY ITALY
Philosophy of Vegetable-Tanning
Italian craftsmen are both creators and guardians. They possess a profound understanding of the materials they work with, and through generations of inheritance and refinement, they achieve a truly enduring value.
Q&A
Q1: How does the heritage spirit of vegetable tanning influence you?
It’s like a philosophy of life to us. We choose the slow tanning process and follow this unhurried approach precisely to create something different from the rest—to make something more valuable and unique. Though the process is slow, it allows us to better control every detail and accomplish things in a way that’s distinct from fast-paced production.
Q2: What do you think is the most important characteristic of a good piece of leather?
The most important thing about vegetable-tanned leather is that it stays natural. It can have imperfections, and it grows more beautiful over time. It takes on different appearances when used by different people.
Whether it’s a handbag or a pair of shoes, they can ‘live’ along with the user—objects and people sharing time together. The same bag purchased by two different people will, over time, evolve into distinct forms—each becoming more beautiful, carrying more ‘traces of life’. and expressing more personality and uniqueness.
Q3: What kind of understanding and shared beliefs do you have with the GROTTO?
GROTTO is a vibrant brand that’s always exploring innovation while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. They strive for a natural effect, and even with modern designs, they perfectly blend traditional handcrafted methods with a contemporary feel—both in structure and form..
Q4: How do you achieve ‘innovation within tradition’?
Without a doubt, GROTTO’s commitment to ‘innovation within tradition’ is part of the vegetable tanning philosophy and lies at the very heart of our tannery’s spirit.
They fully embody this philosophy in both product design and structure, committed to offering their customers unique choices, varied styles, and distinctive experiences through their bag collections.
“Here, every detail is tempered by time and passion.
It is from such an environment that GROTTO draws its very soul.”