Italy, the art of making leather gloves

We are all very familiar with international fashion brands like Dior or Chanel. What we often do not know is that their production often relies on a chain of small suppliers, who provide them with top-quality accessories. Needless to say, many such businesses operate in Italy, where artisanship traditions are regarded as the best in the world.

Omega in Naples is an excellent example, thanks to its experience in leather treatment and glove making which has lasted for almost a century. As explained by the Australian magazine Italianicious, the company was founded by Gennaro Squillace in 1923, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a hand maker of leather gloves. Four generations later, Gennaro Squillace's grand-grandson Mauro has taken over the family business bringing it to a further level of excellence, while maintaining the skills that have been taught and passed down from father to son.

Even the latest generation of Omega craftsmen do things the old-fashioned way: the 25 steps that lead to the creation of the perfect pair of leather gloves are still the same as in 1923, with the only addition of the use of new technologies and machinery. Even the workshop location has remained unchanged: Omega is in Rione Sanità, one of the oldest districts of Naples, where in XVII Century a thriving district of leather industries operated. According to Mauro Squillace, "It is a pity now that ours is the only traditional glove making business left here, because this is a very difficult handicraft to master". Nevertheless, with a number of loyal customer hat include some of the most well-known fashion house from Italy and France, Omega is likely to continue its production for many decades to come and to preserve a precious old tradition that is unique to our country.

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