Thirty- five years ago, my parents went to Europe for their 25th Anniversary, and brought me home THE most beautiful suede skirt I had ever seen. It was purchased in Florence. I was 15, can still picture it perfectly, and kick myself for not having saved it for any daughter I might have in future.
Next year, my hubby and I go on our first cruise, the Med, and I want to buy MY daughter, who will be 25 then, a suede or leather skirt. Most of our stops are in Italy:Venice, Rome, Portofino, Florence, Amalfi to name a few.
Does anyone have thoughts on where they found the nicest leather and /or suede? Do you prefer actual shops, or is it best from markets? Do you think it is a better price/quality than what can be found in US and Canada?
Thanks for any suggestions and help.
Marian

In Florence, adjacent to the Santa Croce church, there is a leather school where people learn the trade of leather-making. It's been in operation for hundreds of years. Everything there was beautifully handcrafted. PapaG (hubby) bought a beautiful antelope suede, rust brown jacket for $700 - a major splurge, but it has kept up well for the last 3 years and many compliments later!

For genuine Italian leather and styling you probably will not find it in the outdoor markets. Most of those jackets are made in places like Korea. You'll find better prices in the markets but the quality in leather and craftsmanship will be lacking in comparison.

I can recommend:



Firenze Leather Factory

Address:

Via dei Cimatori 24-26 rosso
ph: 055/213097

Near Piazza della Signoria. I think I heard about a second location on Via dei Neri. Their prices aren't set in stone either. You can ask for a discount and you'll probably get one. Their jackets are Italian leather made in Italy. Two cousins run the place and they're very nice too. I sent my sister and some friends from San Diego there and they too loved their jackets.

For clarification, it is not a leather "factory" per se. It's a small boutique called "Firenze Leather Factory". I asked one of them why he called his store this name. He said they liked the name because they had their jackets made in Florence, as opposed to buying jackets from manufacturers and selling them.

For one of my birthdays, DH bought me a gorgeous leather bag in Florence at John F. I don't have the exact address (it's on the Arno) but they gave me a brush with the phone # which is 23988985,

I agree with not buying leather goods from the outdoor markets tropic as the quality and workmanship will not be as your skirt was. There are a lot of items that are cheap leather/suede and usually made by nonItalians so they are not the quality you are thinking of. A good leather/suede item made with good material and by an Italian will not be inexpensive (especially with the strong euro) but if you want something that will last and if you can afford it I know your daughter will enjoy what you buy her for decades. I just used an Italian leather bag the other day, it has to be at least twenty years old and it is still like brand new. Have fun shopping!

Living with an Italian family last semester in Florence, my daughter wanted to buy a nice, but not outrageously expensive, leather blazer. Her family recommended a little store on Via del Corso 69/r, called Leonardo da Vinci, for good quality Italian leather goods. A very nice woman runs it, and my daughter thought her prices were the best for quality pieces. Her jacket is very pretty and well-made.

There is an outlet store in Rome called
SKIN, it is located about a block south
of the Spanish Steps at the corner of the vai Gregoriana and the via Francesco
Crispi. Prices are not cheap but from
comparision to other places both in IT
and home, definately a premium quality.
And no leather odor, which you find frequently here at home. Richard of LaGrange Park, IL.

bkm

The Santa Croce area in Florence is famous for the best leather, but it is not anywhere close to where your ship will be. Livorno is a long way.