Craftsmanship

Our company was founded in 1920; since then, many things have changed in how we manage it, but there are some small details that have remained the same over time, reminding us of our history, our family, and everyone who has worked here. The tool we are most attached to is a stamping hammer that we have been using for over 80 years. It’s like a baton passed from my grandparents to my parents, who always in a hurry, pass it on to me.

You might wonder: what is it and what is it used for? In short, it is a hammer with a wooden handle and an iron head with small nails forming the “R” of Restelli. The stamping hammer is used to mark the hides before sending them to the tanneries for dyeing. Stamping a piece of the hide is a sort of indelible mark that ensures the ownership of that leather and protects us from incorrect substitutions during the various processes.

I have seen it resting on piles of crust (undyed) hides since I was a child; every now and then I would ask to try it… of course, they would tell me to go upstairs to grandma’s office because people were working here!! The same thing they said to my son yesterday when he saw the stamp resting on tied, stamped, and ready-for-tannery hides. This made me smile.

The sharp sound of the stamp is unmistakable and rhythmic; it has always accompanied me and reminds me of my grandmother and all the work we do today. It seems like an ordinary process, but every time we pick up this stamping hammer, we get a bit emotional and cannot help but remember those who used it before us and the responsibilities they left us: to design, create, and handcraft luxury gloves, using high-quality materials and paying attention to every detail. With love and passion.

Raffaella Restelli