On September 4th, the Showroom and Historical Archive of Il Bisonte welcomed Jan Leese, a devoted admirer of the brand and loyal customer of the Florence boutique for over thirty years.
Global Director of Accounting and Taxation at FläktGroup, Leese discovered the world of Il Bisonte in the 1990s when he was gifted a wallet made from the brand’s iconic vegetable-tanned natural leather. Right then it was love at first sight: the unique beauty of leather that evolves over time, gaining rich nuances, captivated him so deeply that he has been collecting new pieces ever since.
A refined collector of luxury watches as well, Jan Leese sought to dedicate a special space to the Florentine brand in his home in Germany. There, alongside dozens of wallets, coin purses, and keychains, are books and photographs of Wanny Di Filippo, the founder who brought to life a label that is now beloved worldwide.
During one of his visits to Florence, it was Wanny himself who introduced Jan to the heart of craftsmanship, taking him to visit Il Bisonte’s workshops in Pontassieve. Jan was fascinated by the passion and skill of the brand’s master artisans — especially Luca, Wanny’s longtime collaborator — and began to feel part of a family whose hallmark is excellence.
Together with his wife Maike who runs the ‘Delizioso’ boutique in Germany, dedicated to artisanal brands focused on quality, Jan Leese shares a deep appreciation for beauty and handmade excellence. It’s no surprise, then, that every trip they plan to Florence includes a must-stop visit to the Il Bisonte boutique, where they add a new piece to their collection and renew a heartfelt connection, enriched each time by the joy of rediscovery.
IL BISONTE FLORENCE BOUTIQUE
