Beyond the usual designer labels, Florence is that city for that unique find. The city takes pride in its rich history of design and craftsmanship. One of the best pleasures of the city is taking leisurely walks through the Renaissance streets and stumbling across traditional studios, artisan workshops, vintage stores, and specialty shops. You will find products unavailable anywhere else and learn from the artists at work in their studios. Because the city is steeped in art, the Florentines know and appreciate beauty. For them, fashion is an art — it is part of their heritage. Take a cue or two not only from Florentine designers respected in the fashion world like Pucci, Ferragamo, Cavalli, and Gucci, but also from ordinary Florentines on a regular day. Get inspiration from that Italian flair they are known for. They have this way of putting a look together with effortless ease.
Scuola Del Cuoio, Via San Giuseppe, 5R
You can find leather goods all over the city, but the Santa Croce Leather Workshop, in the cloister of the church, is the most famous place to find leather goods still handmade in the traditional way. It is the home of the city’s original leather school, Scuola del Cuoio, created after WWII. The Franciscan friars converted a dormitory space donated by the Medici family into a school to give orphans a means to learn practical trade. Now, it has opened its doors to impart its expertise to visitors and students from all over the world. The school continues to uphold its commitment to the great traditions of the Florentine quality of craftsmanship through its products and education. While you’re in the area, visit the largest Franciscan church in Italy. Santa Croce church holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante. Don’t miss one of Brunelleschi’s most famous works, the Cappella dei Pazzi, also found there.
Casa Dei Tessuti, Via De Pecori, 20-24R
Search Romano and Rimolo Romoli’s shop for the best quality fabrics from Italy and all over the world. Choose from Tasmanian wool to Mongolian cashmere, the rare and precious vicuna wool of the Andes, the finest Sea Island cotton, printed and brocade silks, beaded lace and velvets. The fabrics are used for clothing or draperies, costumes, and upholstery. Specialists since 1929, the brothers also offer lessons in history of the cloth from as far back as the Roman times, the true meaning of the expression “Italian Fashion” and “Made in Italy,” which they say originated in Florence. The workshop also offers excellent service for made-to-measure clothes. Check out the small museum at the shop on ancient fabrics, precious books, and some rare instruments of the trade used for spinning, weaving, cutting, sewing, and ironing.
Sandro P. 2, via tosinghi, 7r
Located in one of Florence’s fashion districts, designer Sandro Pestelli also conceptualized the store interiors with a mix of enlarged Renaissance frescoes, pieces of poetry and iconic images from Callas and Puccini. Sandro designs men’s and women’s limited collections that are easy and comfortable yet current.
Borsalino, Via Della Vigna Nuova, 60
It’s the place for hats made on traditional wooden molds in velvet, wool, leather, felt or straw. Established in 1857, Borsalino is best known for its fedoras. It has even inspired a 1970 film starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon about two small-time crooks joining forces after they meet fighting over a woman, set in 1930s Marseilles.
Madova, Via Guicciardini 1r
The Donnini family has been making gloves since 1919. Their grandfather Amadeo then produced gloves for the important families and shops in Florence. In 1954, they opened a tiny shop that sells the gloves they produce in every shade, leather and design you can think of.
Bizzarri, Via Condotta, 32r
The family has been in business since 1842 selling herbs, extracts, essences, dyes, spices, chemicals, and potions. Going to the store is like traveling in time with its original wooden shelves and glass jars still at the apothecary’s shop. The wisdom of ancient spices has been handed down through generations. They produce chemicals to restore photographs, pigments, colors, and other raw materials to restore paintings and other artworks, extracts and spices to produce liquor, essences and tips for creating perfumes and cosmetic products.
Giotti, Borgo Ognissanti 5
There are a number of good shops making handmade reproductions of robbaine (Renaissance-style glazed terracotta). Giotti has a wide selection of hand-painted Tuscan terra-cotta and other ceramics you can choose from. Founded by the Biagiotti family, they take pride in the quality of ceramic objects and the creativity and beauty of their designs.
Lapi Mesticheria, Borgo SS. Apostoli, 36/R
Influential fashion brands come to this place to buy products to maintain and care for leather, fabric, and other materials. Tell them your problem and they will recommend the right product for you. To make that bag investment last, proper care is necessary. Get expert advice. I have used products for my leather bags and jackets from them and I am very satisfied.
Pegna, Via Dello Studio 8R
Pegna is a famous grocery store near the Duomo where you can find anything and everything. It has been selling traditional Tuscan meats, cheeses from all regions, special sauces, extra virgin olive oil, Chianti wines, coffee, chocolates, fresh pasta and other products since 1860. You can also get specific products here to care for those precious purchases. Like Lapi Mescticheria, they are helpful and will recommend the best product for your particular need.
Il Veloce Ciabattino,Via Delle Terme, 8R
Father-and-son tandem Vincenzo and Mirko Arezzo not only repair shoes they also make new ones last longer. We all know that beautiful and quaint as it may be, the streets of Florence are any pair of shoes’ worst enemies. I have learned to let go after living in Florence. Otherwise, I will never wear my beloved shoes and stick to trainers every day. They have saved many of my beloved pairs and protected my new ones. Leading fashion labels in Via Tornabuoni depend on their workshop to protect newly purchased shoes. Clients have become accustomed to the additional rubber soles for protection before they even wear their new pair.
Incisore, Via Dei Cimatori, 36R
Adriano Piani has been engraving for more than 40 years. He does everything by hand and I’ve watched him work with precision with no marks to trace. I love anything personal. He has engraved most of my pens, wallets, notebooks, silver and gold accessories. I also enjoy giving presents with personal messages or significant dates engraved on them. These are memorable keepers that will last a lifetime.
Mercatino Dell’antiquariato Di Piazza Dei Ciompi
Take a 10-minute walk from Santa Croce and you will find this place filled with vintage finds, from old posters to gilt frames, light fixtures, home décor and furnishings, bijoux, clothes and other trinkets. Spend long hours scouring the stalls for all sorts of odds and ends.
Antiques and Collectibles
Florence has an abundance of antique shops especially on and around Via Santo Spirito in the Oltrarno area, Via Maggio, a street near the Pitti Palace, and Via de’Fossi, a street close to Santa Maria Novella. These streets are full of important antique shops where you find valuable artworks and collectibles. Just window-shopping is an unforgettable experience on its own, as they often showcase works from the Renaissance period.
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