Pelletteria Viviani

Just two blocks away from Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence, Pelletteria Viviani’s workshop has remained exactly as it was more than 60 years ago. Built in 1965 by Renato Viviani, former apprentice of Guccio Gucci, the ‘bottega’ is now run by his daughter Viviana and nephew Leonardo, and it’s one of the few still-existing shops with an open laboratory— perfect to take a peek at craftsmanship processes. The brand only uses local leathers from Santa Croce sull’Arno tanneries, which are then worked alongside traditional artisanal techniques. The lining, for instance, is in leather too, just as tradition wants. You’ll find that designs are classic and elegant, but they’re balanced out by a modern experimentation with colors and details, such as the signature bamboo handles.