Blue print: Fontana Milano 1915’s ‘A’ bag collaboration with Wallpaper*
It takes time to make one of Fontana Milano 1915’s ‘A’ bags. The family-run, Milan-based luxury leather goods house applies a century’s worth of accumulated expertise to each bag’s meticulous handcrafting.
From the careful selection of richly toned hide by the artisan cutters and the elimination of flaws, to the lining with soft nappa leather and the secure final stitching, the rigorously supervised process takes two or three days to complete.
To mark Wallpaper’s 20th anniversary last September, we added a further twist. Working closely with Fontana Milano 1915’s Porta Romana atelier, Wallpaper* creative director Sarah Douglas conceived a bespoke ‘A’ bag – a birthday gift to ourselves. The lower half of the honey-hued one-off was handpainted in Wallpaper* Blue, the magazine’s signature tone, created in collaboration with British paper mill James Cropper. A leather keyring, rendered as the Wallpaper* asterisk, also swings from the handle.
Our makeover comprised an elegant redressing of a quietly iconic bag, which was showcased at a party at Fontana Milano 1915's Milan flagship last month. The event also showcased four new other ‘A’ bag designs, imagined in varying shades of blue. In wonderfully wintery hues, these creations sat amongst a snowflake inspired cracked glass set, conceived by Frederik de Watcher.
As originally featured in the October 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*211)
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Fontana Milano 1915 website
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Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands.
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