At Viola Castellani®, we believe that a handbag is more than just a fashion accessory – it’s an extension of your personal style. Our collection of Italian leather bags, purses, handbags, backpacks, and more allows you to make a bold statement with quality craftsmanship and timeless design.
Our Story
The Viola Castellani® brand was founded in Milan, Italy over 50 years ago. Our founders, the Castellani family, have been master leather artisans for generations. They have perfected their expertise in working with fine Italian leathers to create bags that are both beautiful and enduring.
The Viola Castellani name first became renowned for its exquisite evening bags that were cherished by the most stylish Italian women. Over the decades, the brand expanded into full collections of leather goods while always upholding our philosophy of melding traditional Old World techniques with modern design sensibilities.
Today, Viola Castellani® continues to be a family-owned and operated company based in Milan. We take great pride in that our bags are entirely imagined and crafted in Italy, keeping the generations-old traditions of Italian leather goods alive. Every Viola Castellani piece goes through a meticulous production process from start to finish in our Italian atelier using high-quality leathers and hardware.
Our brand may have grown internationally through the years, but our values remain rooted in Italian craftsmanship and our family’s passion for creating timelessly stylish leather goods made to last.
Our Design Values
Every Viola Castellani® bag is created with three essential design values in mind:
Tradition Meets Innovation
We honor traditional techniques of Italian leathercraft in our production process. At the same time, we are always exploring fresh silhouettes, functional details, and stylish hardware to complement our classic leathers. This ideal fusion results in bags that feel nostalgic yet thoroughly modern.
Quality Over Quantity
Our artisans handcraft a smaller quantity of bags to absolute perfection rather than producing mass amounts. We use only the finest leathers that have been tanned in Tuscany using natural, eco-friendly methods. The hardware on our bags is custom-made for us by workshops in Northern Italy. Every bag is inspected multiple times to ensure it meets our unwavering quality standards. This attention to detail guarantees that your Viola Castellani bag will truly last for years as a beloved possession.
Timeless Over Trendy
Our design approach focuses on creating silhouettes and styles that will effortlessly transcend seasonal trends and fleeting fads. We want our customers to get the maximum use and enjoyment out of our leather goods for many years. The leathers we choose like pebbled, smooth calf, and supple suede develop a beautiful patina over time. Our muted color palettes, luxe hardware, and structured shapes convey an elegance that never goes out of fashion. A Viola Castellani bag is an investment in a sophisticated, lasting statement piece.
Our Leather & Materials
We carefully curate every material that goes into crafting a Viola Castellani® bag to complement the quality of our leather.
Italian Leather
The leather is always the star of our bags. We exclusively use supple, full-grain leathers from tanneries in Tuscany. The hides are tanned using all natural methods without any harsh chemicals. Vegetable tanning results in leather that looks even more beautiful as it ages. Our leathers come in rich neutrals like black, tan, and warm brown as well as bold hues like ruby red, forest green, and sapphire blue. Full-grain leathers have a subtle grain that adds depth, while pebbled leathers have a velvety soft texture.
Custom Hardware
Every hardware piece on our bags from buckles to grommets is specially crafted for Viola Castellani in Northern Italy. We use light gold, silver, and gunmetal tones with an antique finish for hardware that perfectly complements our leathers. Custom producing the hardware ensures it meets our standards for durability so it won’t easily tarnish or corrode.
Luxury Lining
The interiors of our bags feature linings made of fine Italian textiles. From silky printed satin to hardwearing canvas, our luxurious linings are the perfect finishing touch that you’ll love seeing each time you open your bag.
Handcrafted in Italy
By keeping our entire production process in Italy, we can ensure that each Viola Castellani bag meets our exceptionally high quality standards. Our family and artisans take great pride in creating bags 100% made in Italy through generations of leatherworking expertise.
Meet Our Artisans
The skilled craftspeople bring the Viola Castellani® vision to life. At our workshop in Milan, we employ master artisans who have been honing their leatherworking skills for decades. They expertly cut the leather, painstakingly hand-stitch the bags, perfectly emboss logos, and add the handcrafted hardware. We also partner with small, family-run ateliers throughout Italy for services like lining making and metal hardware production.
Our artisans treat every bag they produce as a work of art. Their passion and perseverance are what enable Viola Castellani to offer Italian leather bags of unparalleled quality. We are committed to sustaining the centuries-old traditions of Italian leather goods by continuing to provide our artisans with meaningful work practicing their craft.
Our Handbag Collections
The Viola Castellani® brand has expanded over the decades to offer a range of leather bags to suit every style and function. Our core collections include:
Crossbody Bags
Our vintage-inspired crossbody bag silhouettes crafted from supple leather are perfect for everyday wear. The hands-free practicality meets timeless Italian styling. Our belt bags, flap bags, and structured mini bags all have adjustable crossbody straps for wearing convenience.
Tote Bags
Italian leather totes epitomize understated luxury. Our roomy totes with top handles make stylish and spacious work bags or everyday carryalls. We design them in classic shapes with thoughtful interior organizational details.
Backpacks
The artisans make our leather backpacks using traditional techniques that date back centuries in Italy. The handcrafted quality shines through in strap details and sturdy hardware. Viola Castellani backpacks are perfect for travel as they are roomy yet still polished for work and school.
Satchels
With their classic doctor’s bag silhouette, our Italian leather satchels never go out of style. They come in both ladylike and modernized versions featuring details like whipstitching, tassels, and custom hardware. Carry them by the top handles or over your shoulder.
Shoulder Bags
Buttery soft leather and a structured shape define our elegant shoulder bags. They have both a top handle and a shoulder strap so you can switch up wearing styles. Shoulder bags are a timeless choice for evening events or transitioning from work to dinner.
Small Accessories
Discover our collection of small leather goods for elevating your everyday style. We craft Italian leather wallets, wristlets, key holders, cosmetic cases and more. They make the perfect gift or luxury treat for yourself.
Responsible Production
At Viola Castellani®, we are committed to maintaining our artisanal production process in Italy. By keeping manufacturing local, we are able to ensure ethical working conditions where our artisans can practice their craft. We partner only with Italian tanneries and workshops that use environmentally responsible practices. For example, our leathers are vegetable tanned and dyed using non-toxic methods.
We source the highest quality raw materials so that our bags last for many years vs ending up in landfills. Our production technique focuses on small-batch craftsmanship over mass manufacturing. We use every piece of leather efficiently to minimize waste.
Part of preserving centuries-old Italian leather goods traditions is passing the torch to the next generation. We are proud to employ several artisans who were taught their skills by their parents and grandparents. We also participate in initiatives helping to teach and employ recent arts graduates and new immigrants in Italy.
At Viola Castellani, we are committed to keeping the heart of our production in Italy while bringing joy to leather goods lovers around the world.
Join The Viola Castellani Family
Owning an Italian leather bag is a special experience. When you carry your Viola Castellani® handbag, you’ll feel part of our family tradition of high-quality craftsmanship. We pour passion into making our bags so that you’ll cherish them for years to come.
Bring home the beauty of Viola Castellani today. You can shop our entire collection online 24/7 at viola-castellani.com with worldwide shipping. Visit our website to find your perfect leather bag that makes you smile each time you wear it.