Behind the Scenes – Part Uno di Quattro

Get your passport ready!  You and I are about to depart on a journey into the private world of an Italian tannery!  Raniero has graciously invited us into ELAL PELLI, where he has made leather magic for decades.  We are about to see a beautiful part of his life and he warmly welcomes us as trusted friends.

As we enter, Marco shares with us “This is a leather tannery of the past, the way they had always been and the way many still wish they could be.  Many of the older machines are even quite preferred to the newer.” Raniero first leads us to a very long machine that applies color to the hides.  We see before us a rack where leather is awaiting his artisan.  

It is a very long machine that runs the length of one entire back wall of the tannery.  Each hide is taken one at a time and placed on the moving wires that begin pulling it into the machine. 

 Raniero begins by placing a hide on the moving multiple heavy wires.  He quickly straightens out the large heavy leather hide with ease and confidence.  He makes it look effortless though we can see how tricky it would be to get it straightened out flat and even with quick timing. 

A conveyor belt of heavy wires will pull this leather to the end of the machine.  As the leather is guided through, the desired color is applied from above. It sprays out very evenly by means of arms that spin in a circular motion.  

  It is not just run through once but the process can be repeated several times if needed.

 After the color is applied, there is a drying process that occurs.  By the time Raniero retrieves this leather at the end point of the machine, it is no longer wet but instead quite dry and can be picked up immediately.  The entire process from beginning to end takes only minutes.

 This leather is an example of one he wishes to run through again, so off Raniero goes back to the beginning.  On the right-hand side in the background of this picture, we can see the outdoor area which is used for all leathers that require special dying by hand.

  Before he begins the process again, he pauses to show us a before and after/color comparison picture.  Beautiful we say!!  But Raniero knows another run through is required to get the exact desired result his client has requested.

 Next we are led to another area of the tannery.  As we walk through there are additional racks of delicious Italian leather!  Fainting now!

 This next machine has a long vertical metal arm and attached to the end of the arm is a bar like crystal.  

 The crystal is used to deepen the color “effetto cerato” of the leather.  It also enhances the natural variations of the leather and creates a bit of a waxy surface.  

 Much in the same way Raniero was able to place the leather with such even movement on the first machine, this gentleman guides the leather with precision and even choreography.  It is a leather dance as he moves the leather to and fro and the machine with its crystal bar races back and forth.  The arm moves so fast that it cannot be captured in a photograph but we can see a blur at times and that is the arm moving.

 He pauses to show us the immediate difference!  The raw base of the leather in its original form and the top portion where he has worked his magic.

 The before and after is quite amazing and little by little we see the transformation!  

 Almost done!

So completely gorgeous!!!

Not only are our beloved Massaccesi bags made by hand, but each bag possesses such history before it ever reaches our arms.  There is a personal story in every bag.  A connection… to the tanneries where Marco personally selects our leathers, to the family owned hardware shop that has been in business for generations, and to the wonderful Italian proprietor where Marco purchases our fine millerighe linings.  History everywhere you look.  And now thanks to Raniero, we have a deeper connection to his world.  On behalf of us all Raniero, we humbly thank you and not only will we think of Marco and the MM team when we proudly carry our Massaccesi handbags, but we will think of you with warmth in our hearts!

Don’t put away your passports yet ladies, there is more to come!  See you soon for part two of four!  In the meantime, I am only an email away.

colette@marcomassaccesi.it