F. CLIO | History & Concept

The Story Behind the Italian Treasure, F. CLIO

When one thinks of an Italian bag brand, especially a factory brand, a certain preconceived notion might come to mind. However, F. CLIO is different. While maintaining its high quality, it overflows with an indescribable "warmth," like the Italian sun.

Text by HOSOMURA GotaroPhoto by Jamandfix

A New Tradition is Born

Many globally renowned leather goods brands trace their origins back to saddlery workshops. This is because the knowledge and techniques required for saddlery, which demands different leathers and stitching depending on the use, as well as robustness and precision, are more than applicable to leather products like bags.

The Italian bag brand F. CLIO, introduced here, also began with a single saddler. That person was Mr. Voichio Garbiati, the founder of PELLETTERIA CLIO, the parent company of F. CLIO. He began his apprenticeship as an "artigiano" (craftsman) at a long-established saddlery workshop at the age of 15, where he was instilled with solid skills and a stubborn pride in quality. He later transitioned to crafting leather goods. While inheriting and applying the techniques and knowledge of leather selection and stitching cultivated through saddlery, he began producing travel bags, vanity cases, and jewelry cases. His beautiful, high-quality products quickly made him stand out as a skilled leather craftsman in Italy. After running a company that produced and sold women's bags, he founded the total bag manufacturer PELLETTERIA CLIO in 1983 with fellow craftsmen who made bags and designed clothing, and his son, Fulvio.

Mr. Voichio Garbiati always said, "I want to create bags that can be loved across generations." This passionate desire manifested in the all-handcrafted process, from cutting the leather to stitching. The "beautiful bags" created through the relentless pursuit of quality and beauty, characteristic of Italian artisans, and the skilled handwork naturally attracted attention, making it a reputable bag manufacturer in Italy.

An Essence of Italy

Currently, the company's owner is his son, Fulvio Garbiati, who inherited the business from his father. And it is he who has launched the brand "F. CLIO" as its creative director. While utilizing the traditional techniques inherited from his father, he develops creative works incorporating his own unique, new sensibility, creating bags that are found nowhere else. The bags, born from skilled craftsmanship, are filled with high quality and Italian beauty. Although it is a new brand making its debut in Japan, it has earned trust in Italy for many years, and now we can finally enjoy its benefits. It can be said to be the ultimate, yet latest, truly capable bag brand where one can savor the essence of Italian bag making.

The core concept is "Italian Treasure." This expresses the appeal of the bags, or in other words, "bags to be experienced with the five senses." For example, the scent of leather like a fragrance, the feel of the handles made from Italian leather, the beautiful colors of the nylon fabric that appeal to the eyes, and the combination with leather. Indeed, they possess a unique warmth and naturalness not found in existing bag brands. The leather used partially for the handles is vegetable-tanned by Walpier, offering a subtle yet distinct character that can be enjoyed.

Furthermore, the nylon fabric used for the bags is exclusively custom-made by Santi, boasting truly beautiful colors. Using these materials, Mr. Fulvio, along with eight craftsman colleagues he considers family, meticulously crafts each bag by hand. Naturally, mass production is not possible, making them highly exclusive. This is the reason behind their unique warmth and handcrafted feel. Shops opened in Milan in February 2010, followed by Ginza and Osaka in Japan in March. Among the many Italian bag brands, F. CLIO is the only factory brand with an exclusive shop in Milan. They are also scheduled to be available in major department stores nationwide.

The design work, imbued with a warmth reminiscent of the Italian sun, and the exquisite stitching techniques that prioritize handwork... The brand's pride, which it calls "Italian Treasure," is palpable.