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VOYLAN

Canadian owned. Italian made.
Minimalist designs combining timeless style with modern utility.

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(5/7) The leather tanning process itself involves several stages that prepare and treat the hides to make them ready to use for a variety of end products. A series of steps take place including removing all impurities, pressing, stretching, splitting and most importantly dying the pieces. All of this takes place to make the leather soft, colourful and durable (increase the shelf life by reducing the rate of decomposition).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The dominant method used for the production of most leather products is chrome tanning. Leather treated by this process is much more water resistant, comes in a variety of colours that remain vibrant for a lengthy period of time and is less sensitive to heat. However, the drawback to chrome tanning is that the chemicals used can be more damaging to the environment if tanneries do not take care in managing the waste water produced. This is another reason leather from Italy is more advantageous than the majority that is now processed in developing countries across the globe - environmental laws are much more advanced in the EU thereby protecting the environment, workers and the surrounding population from the negative effects of leather tanning if left unchecked.

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(4/7) A trade almost as old as time itself, leather production became an industry in the regions of Pisa and Florence during the Middle Ages. An abundance of raw materials and a strong merchant class along key trade ports encouraged wealthy Florentine families to invest significantly in tanneries in the Santa Croce area. The nearby Arno river made this an optimal location to develop the industry as access to water was necessary for both the production process and facilitated the transportation of goods.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As this craft developed over centuries, the region became known for producing leather that was unmatched anywhere else in the world. Secret techniques were passed down generation to generation and guilds were formed to protect them. In addition to the quality of the leather itself, craftsmen spent years learning how to hand stitch, making Italy the global leader in high-quality, luxury leather goods. To this day, it remains the home for leading designer brands that continue to source the finest hides from Tuscany and manufacture them in workshops and factories following centuries old traditions. To own a leather product from Italy is to own a piece of timeless luxury in an era of mass production.

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(3/7) The following summer I came back to Tuscany, this time with a purpose. I rented a country home for a couple of weeks and proceeded to visit numerous tanneries and manufacturers with sketches of designs I had developed over the year in hand. This process began with poring over stacks of leather samples to choose the right type, texture, finishing and colour for each design.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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On one particular day, as I was leaving the villa I was staying at, the GPS took me down a long gravel path. As I drove downhill, a large rock came loose and hit the car from below. After stepping out to make sure everything was ok, I continued on. A little while later, I reached my destination, an industrial area just outside a small Tuscan town. That's when an overpowering smell of gasoline overcame me and I realized that the tank must be leaking.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I tried going through my rental documents to call a tow truck, but could not get through to anyone that spoke English. I did the next best thing and walked into the first factory in sight, a small building with about 50 people working on the ground floor. Within minutes, half of the employees, young and old, men and women, had circled my car to see if there was anything they could do to help. The other half took me to a lounge area and proceeded to spoil me with espresso, pastries and anything else they could find while a few took turns staying on hold while they got through to my rental company, organized a tow truck and a new car waiting for me at the closest pickup location. To top it all off (and only after making sure I was well fed) they insisted on having someone drive me to the next town to my car and to make sure everything was alright. One of many memories of Italy and its remarkable people I'll never forget. 🇮🇪

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(2/7) During the time I worked as a management consultant, my typical week consisted of multiple flights, hotels and long hours at the office. Although being fortunate enough to travel around the world and spend time in cities like Sydney, NYC, London and Bangalore, this kind of lifestyle came with its set of challenges as well, constant jetlag and adjusting to very different climates in a short amount of time being a couple of them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Years of living in hotels and commuting through airports also brought to light the fact that finding a handbag that could "do it all" and still be sophisticated was extremely difficult. The choice was typically a tradeoff between functionality and style. This need was so prominent in my day to day life that over the years an idea started to form about the kind of designs I wished were more accessible.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A few summers ago, while taking a tour of Tuscany during a trip to Italy, I happened to learn a little bit about the Italian leather industry. I was surprised to discover the extent to which the region was known for leather production. Significantly developed during the Middle Ages, the Tuscan leather industry is still a global leader in terms of craftsmanship, quality, style and durability, with many families continuing to pass on those century old traditions. As a vision for Voylan started to form in my mind over the course of the following year, I knew it would have everything to do with the Santa Croce area and all that Italy's fashion and leather heritage represents.

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