This month we have spoken with Tomas Than about his inspiration and the Maison's philosophy.

Tell us your story. How did your activity start?

I have always been fascinated by art and architecture, forms and lines. My mother, an interior designer, passed on this passions to me when I was a child, so I have always had a knack for the right proportions, colours and matter. I come from a family which has always paid attention to excellence, perfect executions, tailoring and craftsmanship. What mattered most to us was quality, which to me is synonymous with substance and durability. This is where my activity took roots. I wanted to create something really Italian, produced in Italy by Italian hands, since this is where we manage to find unique quality.

How about your educational background, and how did you come to choose such a profession?

I also studied fashion design in order to have a closer view of some characteristics of this sector, which I believe cannot be ignored. I decided to create my line of handbags and bags for women and men, because I felt the need, for myself and those around me, to achieve an exceptional quality and a design that is able to be timeless and not subject to the limits of the trends. I wanted to create something which every person that acquired any of my products could regard as unique and personal. So that was how my line came about - a challenge and a tribute to Italian craftsmen who, with their hands, create and sign every single piece that issues from our workshops.

I don’t go for market trends. I don’t want to make a trendy item, but a product which my clients feel as their very own, and which accompanies them every single day.

I wanted to create something which every person that acquired any of my products could regard as unique and personal.
So that was how my line came about.

Where do you get your inspiration for your creations?

An inspiration is not always a concrete, real or tactile thing for me, but something which can also arise from a thought, or a mood. The architecture and design of the 20th century - alongside its lines and volumes - are part of my work and my ideas, and help me create a concept, a design, and then a true and proper bag.

What is the philosophy of the Maison?

Respect, quality and passion.
Respect means creating only on commission, producing only what is ordered. It signifies respect for the materials we use and for my artisans, who work with their hands on every piece with love, and not for a seasonal item, but one that lasts for life, since we produce objects which we are able to repair. Quality lies in choosing the best raw materials and only superior skins, with natural tanning and dyes. Passion is creating an object that is not produced in series, but one which is each time a bit different from the previous one and which will never equal the next.

How do you reconcile an activity like yours with new market demands and trends?

I don’t go for market trends. I don’t want to make a trendy item, but a product which my clients feel as their very own, and which accompanies them every single day.
The only thing we pay attention to is the quality and essence of what we create, to offer something honest and unique that represents Italian craftsmanship and know-how.
Each item undergoes a strict quality control and, before it leaves our workshop to be delivered to the client, it must prove to be free from defects.

Do you think the youth can be attracted to and interested in undertaking this type of activity?

I believe that if done with passion, love and creativity, this activity can attract anyone, regardless of age. As long as things stem from creativity and love, nothing is impossible.

What are the critical factors in this sector? And the prospects?

I think that the critical factor related to this and other artisanal sectors is to succeed in finding the people, especially the youth, who wish to learn the artisanal leather trade, to bring ahead the existence of trademarks, like mine, that are founded solely on the heritage of skilled, expert hands.