This past June, the 110th "PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO" was held in Florence, Italy. At the venue, attendees could check out the next season's trends proposed by each brand, and buyers also purchased and commissioned valuable brands and items for customers of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . This is the third installment of a series introducing noteworthy products selected by buyer Narihiro Fukushima.

Leaving the Pitti Uomo venue, I headed to the left bank of Florence, enjoying the magnificent view of the Arno River.

The Pitti Uomo venue, overflowing with stylish people from all over the world, suddenly becomes deserted after 5 PM. I still have important work to do, visiting workshops, so I'll take a tram from a stop near the venue.

"The studio we visited this time is located on the left bank of the Arno River. In contrast to the right bank, which is home to many tourist attractions such as the Pitti Uomo venue, the Santa Maria Novella church, and the Uffizi Gallery, the left bank is a quiet streetscape typical of Florence, a city known for its craftsmanship, with various workshops lining the streets and artisans and locals coming and going. Even after 7 p.m., Florence remains this bright."

I visited CISEI factory. Inside the workshop, I saw their popular tote bags.

Our destination is located just off the street along the Arno River. It's the workshop of Cisei, a popular bag brand also sold at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .

"The owner and designer, Tomoo Ohira, greeted me. I wonder if it's because we're both Japanese that he welcomed me even at this time of day (laughs)."

This is the workshop at 7:30 p.m. I was able to relax and have a meeting with Mr. Ohira. Lined up on the right is CISEI 's popular standard tote bag. It's a long-selling product that was created in 2009 and is an iconic model of this brand. The capacity can be adjusted with the snap buttons on the side, and the handles, which become more comfortable the more you use them, are made with a leather core.

The handle clearly demonstrates attention to detail. Inside the rolled leather, leather is also used for the lining and core material.

"The lining is a different color. This is because they used leftover pieces of leather that were cut from the leather used for the exterior. You can see that high-quality leather is used for both the exterior and the interior. Lately, many manufacturers are using synthetic fiber cores for the handles. According to Mr. Ohira, the way synthetic fiber and genuine leather break in and the rate of deterioration are completely different. I was once again impressed by the brand's commitment to pursuing quality even in parts that are not visible from the outside."

The "flavor" comes from paying attention to the tools and machinery used.

"Various molds were lined up on the wall. This is a leather die-cutting machine that was in the workshop. I have visited many workshops so far, but I have never seen this die-cutting machine in Japan. It seems to be made by a manufacturer in Florence, and according to Mr. Ohira, the 'texture' of the bags cannot be achieved without this machine. The Italian feel that permeates CISEI bags seems to be created by paying attention to the tools and machinery as well."

A limited edition model has been created from the workshop's stock!?

This is a stock of leather found in the back of the workshop. Because their workshop is located in Florence, they have easy access to high-quality leather materials. This stock shelf even contains leather that is no longer available.

"When we told them we would love to showcase a bag made with this material at the Leather Expo around the fall of 2027, they readily agreed. Mr. Ohira also said he would consider holding an order event at his store when the event takes place."

I was able to encounter not only the samples and materials prepared at the Pitti venue, but also precious materials that were lying dormant in the back of the workshop. I also felt Mr. Ohira's passion for craftsmanship, and I had a very fulfilling time.

profile

Fukushima Masahiro

Shinjuku Men's Department, Men's Shoes, Bags & Luggage Buyer

He joined Mitsukoshi Isetan Co., Ltd. in 2010. He has gained experience in men's shoes, bags, and leather goods in general, and currently works as a buyer for men's shoes, bags, and luggage. His hobby is saunas, and he loves sauna facilities and public bathhouses.

Text: Yasuyuki Ikeda
Photograph: Masahiro Fukushima (Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd. Company)

Production by STUDIO ALTA

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