HISTORY

PELLETTERIA ARTIGIANA VIVIANI OVER THE YEARS

Renato Viviani in the 1920s was an apprentice leatherworker in the first workshop of Guccio Gucci, founder of the famous label. Later Viviani, who emigrated to Argentina before World War II, continued his work as a leather craftsman in Buenos Aires, working on designing and making luxury leather accessories.

Renato Viviani works in Buenos Aires. In his workshop on Calle General Escalada, he exhibits his fine leather goods, which are purchased by all the most important boutiques in the Argentine capital. In the same years that Renato becomes a master leatherworker, he meets Delia, who will become his wife and who will follow him from this point on throughout his work.

Together with his daughter Viviana, Renato returned to Italy in the early 1960s, and, within a few years, his esteemed work in the city allowed him to open his own workshop with an adjacent shop.

Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani was inaugurated on November 16, 1965. The store and workshop are located in a historic building in the city, in what used to be the studio of Architect Giuseppe Poggi, who oversaw the works of Florence Capital and designed the famous Piazzale Michelangelo.The store is only a year old when the city of Florence is literally swept away by the terrible flood of November 4, 1966, during which the waters of the Arno River overflow, bringing the population to its knees. Pelletteria did not escape unscathed. The Florentines’ spirit of revenge also belongs to Viviani who, for the umpteenth time, finds himself having to start from scratch. His tenacity and determination are proven by the fact that to this day his store still lives there, right where he where thought of it.

In the late 1970s Renato and Delia’s daughter, Viviana, began working together with her parents, and her father passed on to her the art and secrets of the trade, so much so that she too became a Master Leatherworker, able to perpetuate her father’s tradition and knowledge.

In 1995 Viviana was ready to become the new designer and president of Artigiana Leather Goods.

In 2004 the first version of the company website www.pelletteriaartigiana.com was inaugurated, which over time and in various revisions became the current e-commerce.

Today

Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani is now managed by Viviana and her son Leonardo, grandson of the founder, Renato. Together, they proudly carry on a tradition deeply rooted in the past, passed down through three generations, preserving and enhancing a unique artisanal craft that embodies both beauty and functionality.

In 2012, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani became part of OMA (Osservatorio Mestieri d’Arte), an institution dedicated to promoting and preserving traditional craftsmanship. The following year, it expanded internationally, partnering with traditional boutiques and e-commerce platforms worldwide.

Today, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani’s products are sold in the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Japan, China, and South Korea. This recognition places it among the select group of artisans who bring Made in Italy excellence to the world, all while staying true to its origins as a family-run artisanal workshop.

The company’s identity is shaped by a careful selection of leathers — sourced exclusively from Tuscan tanneries — and accessories, all strictly made in Italy. Attention to fashion and contemporary design, the perfect balance between handcrafting tradition and technological innovation, and an unwavering commitment to quality are the cornerstones of Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani’s history and philosophy.

In 2015, to mark its 50th anniversary, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani was awarded the prestigious title of Esercizio Storico Fiorentino Historic Florentine Establishment, anhonor bestowed by the City of Florence on businesses that have demonstrated exceptional quality, expertise, and historical significance.

In May 2017, the company joined the Associazione Esercizi Storici e Tipici Fiorentini Association of Historical and Typical Florentine Exercises., an exclusive group of distinguished historic workshops and stores.

In 2018, in recognition of its role in preserving Florentine artisanal tradition, the historical significance of its building, the elegance of its interiors, and the remarkable architectural structure, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani was included in the official list of Esercizi Storici Vincolati della Città di Firenze (Protected Historic Businesses of Florence).

In 2020, the company adapted to the global pandemic by strengthening its digital presence. By upgrading its website, simplifying international sales, and forming new strategic partnerships, it ensured that Italian craftsmanship could reach customers worldwide while maintaining its traditional values.

In 2023, as the world moved beyond the Covid emergency, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani gained international recognition by appearing alongside other outstanding Italian artisans in the PBS documentary “Made with Love: Italy”. The program went on to win an Emmy Award in the Educational & Informative Programming category.

In 2025, Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani celebrates sixty years of history, a milestone that reflects its dedication, quality, and excellence—qualities that have made it a benchmark in both Florentine and international craftsmanship.

HISTORY THROUGH IMAGES