Have you ever wished you could design your own bag? For sure I have. Now that wish has become true thanks to Quattropiume, the latest luxury accessories brand born in Florence from 4 friends who wanted to give everyone the chance to design their dream bags. 



Making this little dream of mine of designing my own bag was the reason of my trip to Florence a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful experience of discovery. While you are the one putting your creativity into making your dream clutch, local leather artisans are the ones molding your bag using the process and techniques they are famous for.

 

 



The Quattropiume process seems easy to our internet savvy generation but having the customer and the best leather artisans involved directly in the creation of a bag isn't an easy fit. The time, expertise and effort that goes into creating a piece of fashion art is lots of work and that is why this is a very luxury experience. In the era when fashion is going towards customization, Quattropiume takes it to the next level by offering a total new experience of creating your style from scratch. 



"Quattropiume" is born in Florence and its name identifies the nature of the brand itself. In English, it literally translates “four feathers”, but in Italian it actually conceals a pun: QUATTRO means four, referring to the four founder minds, while PIU'-ME means PLUS ME, dedicated to the customer who becomes the stylist of her own clutch bag, translating her idea of beauty with creativity and originality. 





The steps to be taken in the creation of your dream clutch are made easy by Quattropiume, having them already selected a wide range of shapes, colors and precious leathers of python, crocodile, and lizard. Once you have designed your clutch through a 3D design program the bag will be delivered to you in 45 days. While I know that in the era of online shopping we expect everything to be delivered immediately, in this case, the clutches are handmade by leather artisans and it takes time for luxury fashion to come to life. 

Design you bag with Quattropiume

An easy 3 step guide to making your dream bag

 www.quattropiume.com

It has become a yearly appointment, I have to go back to Florence at least once a year. Most of the time it is for work, and sometimes and I can squeeze in a long weekend of relax. I have my own list of things to see and places that I haven't visited yet because I've taking it slowly every time. During this last visit the mission was to go around and try to get lost in the streets. This way I discovered an amazing place 'The Rose Garden' by created in 1865 by Giuseppe Poggi, who also has designed the famous Piazzale Michelangelo.

Florence it is not just a city, it is an experience. This time I got an experience even with my stay, which was at an artist's apartment booked with Solo Affitti Vacanze, which was located in the very center of the city, behind the famous Duomo. A perfect location for shopping, visiting museums and partying. But what struck me more was the inspiration that the apartment and its interior design gave me during the stay. Surrounded by oil paint supplies like brushes and palettes it looked like an invitation to try my artistic skills, skills that I don't have for sure but that I didn't know I wanted to have. My walls at home are white with no paintings on, so seeing the creations by the artist that owned the apartment I started thinking of giving it a try.

I'm back now from Florence and haven't acted yet on my desire to try painting, but now that I'm looking again at the photos that desire emerges again. Experiences like this are unique, that is why I have stopped booking hotels and I am renting every time someone else's home.  Entering someone else's world and this time it felt like I was the artist for those 2 days spent in Florence.

 Check out the trip video recap #007MissioneVacanza

*This post is written in collaboration with Solo Affitti Vacanze.