On the occasion of Pitti 109, Il Bisonte, renowned Florentine brand specializing in high-end artisanal leather goods presents both a new collection and a new installation of its historical archive. “In perfect harmony with the theme of this edition of Pitti Uomo,” explains managing director Hideo Shiomoto, “we chose to interpret the concept of motion as the evolution of tradition, and as the ability to innovate the heritage on which our brand identity is built. The FW26 collection and the new archive installation revisit the past with eyes that are firmly focused on the present and the future.”
THE FW26 COLLECTION
Authentic and enduring, the luxury expressed by Il Bisonte has always been based on quality raw materials and craftsmanship, as well as a timeless aesthetic unfettered by seasonal fashion trends. The FW26 collection reinterprets this vocation for excellence by offering essential bags and accessories that forgot the superfluous, and pay meticulous attention to every detail.
The names of the lines — Storia, Trama, Essenza, and Segno — directly reference the foundations of the brand’s philosophy, and celebrate the uniqueness of its responsible design, as well as the extraordinary savoir-faire of the artisans working within its 30-Km supply chain concentrated in the province of Florence.
The names of the new colors — Tabacco brown, Oleander green, and Daffodil yellow — evoke the naturalness and casual-chic elegance that have always distinguished not only Il Bisonte’s bags and accessories, but also the attitude of the individuals who choose and love them.
As for raw materials, the new lines are crafted with the brand’s iconic vegetable-tanned leather, which has always been its material of choice, and with a new metal-free printed leather that is extraordinarily soft.
New products for women
With the FW26 collection, Il Bisonte’s women’s offering expands to include three new lines.
The Storia line pays tribute to the inexhaustible creativity expressed in the bags designed by the brand’s founder, Wanny Di Filippo, during Il Bisonte’s early decades. It includes a Boston bag and a tote bag (either carried by hand or worn crossbody), a crossbody bag, a shoulder bag, and two wallets (small and medium), all characterized by geometric cuts with colored edges.
The hobo bag and crossbody bag in the Trama line are distinguished by handwoven leather details that enrich the handle. This entirely hand-crafted technique offers a contemporary twist to prototypes from the 1970s preserved in the brand’s historical archive.
Finally, the focus shifts to the tactile quality of leather in the Essenza line, which includes a crossbody bag that can also be worn on the shoulder, and a shoulder bag that can either be carried or worn crossbody.
New line for Men
Essential and versatile, the men’s Segno line is crafted from a new, high-quality, metal-free printed leather, distinguished by exceptional softness and a full, uniform grain. The line includes a travel bag with a removable shoulder strap, a tote bag that can also be worn crossbody, a crossbody bag, a portfolio, and a card holder with keyring — all defined by clean lines and great versatility.
Tribute to Tuscany
The images featured in the FW26 campaign were shot in Peccioli (renowned for its history of resilience), at The Social Hub on Viale Belfiore, and at the former Teatro dell’Opera in Florence: three places suspended between the past and the future that perfectly represent the deep bond between the brand and the land of its birthplace 56 years ago and where it continues to craft all its products. A land in constant transformation, which still today shapes Il Bisonte’s identity and its idea of timeless beauty.
THE NEW HISTORICAL ARCHIVE INSTALLATION
Accompanying the launch of the FW26 collection is a new installation of Il Bisonte’s historical archive, visitable by appointment only.
In the magnificent frescoed rooms on the ground floor of Palazzo Corsini, the creations from the 1970s and 1980s that inspired the new Storia, Trama, Essenza, and Segno lines are displayed, along with a selection of bags and accessories made with furs and winter fabrics which vividly convey the brand’s eclecticism and experimental spirit.
The complete archive consists of over 3,000 bags and prototypes, preserved at the production facility in Pontassieve.
About Il Bisonte SpA
Il Bisonte is a high-quality Florentine brand that has been crafting – exclusively in Tuscany – bags and accessories in leather and fabric for the past five decades; these products express a style that is immune to market-driven conventions and fleeting seasonal trends. Founded in 1970 by Wanny di Filippo, it is currently owned by Look Holdings Inc., the brand’s historic Japanese distributor, and is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange. The brand can be found on four continents and in the most important international cities (Tokyo, Florence, Rome, Milan, Paris, New York, Taipei and Seoul), and is distributed in over 30 countries. There are 56 single-brand boutiques throughout the world, 50 of which are in Japan. The ilbisonte.com website offering e-commerce is active in 54 countries.