A company was established more than a century ago in the heart of Bologna, which has become an institution in leather goods over time. Today it relies on 28 collaborators for an international market and a turnover of 9 million euros. What counts is quality craftsmanship. Doing things with your hands, with your head, with your heart. For FARE INSIEME, Giampaolo Colletti interviews Susanna Parisini, co-owner of Parisini Pelletterie
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri and Francesca Aufiero
One thing leads to another. Well, the story we are about to tell can be summarised in this sentence that expresses the initial brilliant intuition, the creative flair that becomes a business, the constant dedication over time, the infinite sacrifices. One thing leads to another in a family passion that binds generations, four to date. This is the story of grandfather Otello, who was born in 1889 and began his career as an apprentice saddler, specialising in the processing of horse harnesses. The first company documents date back to 1922. In that year, the small workshop already existed in Bologna, which opened at the end of the First World War. Parisini Pelletterie was thus born. The years pass quickly, becoming decades, even centuries. The rapid change of times leads Otello to add professional bags and belts to the production of leather suitcases and travel bags. Grandfather Otello continues to think, but above all he continues to do. With his head, with his hands, with his heart. Parisini Pelletterie contains the secrets of the Italian leather goods tradition and still respects the philosophy of grandfather Otello. A tradition that has remained unchanged over time. That of creating leather accessories made with the utmost care and with unmistakable elegance and quality. «Grandpa lived a long time, he passed away at 95 years old. Much respect for those who started with so many sacrifices. To think that it all started with him who at the time worked with horse harnesses for carriages. From there he then began to work leather for suitcases and never stopped.» These are the words of Susanna Parisini, co-owner of Parisini Pelletterie together with her sister Alessandra. After their grandfather, their father took the reins of the family business. Carlo was born in 1926 and grew the company until it became an institution.
Company profile. We are in Bologna, a city of culture and manufacturing traditions, an ideal crossroads between the fashion cities of Northern and Central Italy. And we are in the industrial area of Bologna, that Roveri area located in the San Donato-San Vitale neighbourhood and delimited to the south by Via Enrico Mattei, to the north by the Bologna San Donato test railway circuit, to the east by the municipality of Castenaso and to the west by Via Larga. Even the address is not a coincidence: Via dell’Incisore (i.e. Engraver st.). Today 28 people work here for a global market with international brands and a turnover of 9 million euros. «Currently, following the growing demand of recent years, production is entirely dedicated to belts. Our DNA is focused on continuity, having been active for over a century. Our vocation is for production, that is, the ability to manage the entire production cycle within the company. The important thing for me is adhering to ethical behaviours that create a positive work environment. And then the sensitivity towards environmental issues», says Parisini.
Between past and future. For this company, history speaks. But be careful: nothing is static, everything is dynamic. It changes over time, it adapts to the sensibilities, the fashions, the needs of customers. While preserving its identity. That remains consistent over time, over the years, over the decades, over the centuries. «In our long tradition, we can define innovation as having periodically inserted the most advanced machinery into the production lines, but the manual component has remained fundamental. The high-quality product always requires processing performed by expert and fast hands. A balance has been created between tradition and technological innovation that has allowed us to generate production lines where automation merges with an expert manual skill. For the significant numbers we are able to produce, we can define our craftsmanship as true mass-produced craftsmanship», says Parisini. And now we come to the proposals. Here we find a Made in Italy rich in content both for the accurate manufacturing and for the variety of processes and customisations. The creations, both for men and women, range from classic-formal to casual, using raw materials of various types, such as full-grain calfskin, vegetable leather, fabric and canvas combined with leather. The buckles used can be chosen from different materials: brass, steel and zinc die casting, all with characteristics that allow the free circulation on the markets. A particular attention is paid to the selection of all the components of the belt. In the choice of leathers, metal accessories and products for processing, everything must respect the environment. «For a long time now, famous brands have imposed style. We have a good ability to interpret the desires of customers and as custodians of the artisan tradition we know the processes that in the ebbs and flows of fashion, always remain current», says Parisini. What's in store for the future? Susanna has only one important recommendation: that the true value of manufacturing and its protagonists always be recognised. That is, people capable of working with their hands in an impeccable and fast way and entrepreneurs who fully recognise their talents.
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