Furla CEO for Asia Pacific Alessandro Bartoli is no doubt as bright and bubbly as the Italian brand’s latest collection of vivid-colored bags, but not the kind that’s loud and vulgar.
“So it’s colorful, but not as flashy or ‘logo, logo, logo’ [as other brands],” said Bartoli. “We’re more subtle but still luxury.”
Light as inspiration
As the premium accessories brand recently opened its new concept store at Greenbelt 5, Bartoli not only showed Furla’s current offerings, but also shared the brand’s philosophy of creating accessories that show understated elegance combined with unparalleled Italian artistry.
“The idea is that you get the feel of luxury, like a luxury box with the premium quality inside. That’s the whole message,” noted Bartoli.
Over lunch at Lusso and after regaling us with stories of lawbreakers penalized for producing counterfeit goods, he showed the pristine stitching on Furla’s must-have ‘Candy’ bag that could only be done with meticulous Italian craftsmanship (in other words, craftsmanship that would be extremely difficult to copy).
As one of the brand’s bestsellers, the ‘Candy’ bag continues to be the arm-candy of choice with its transparent PVC material tinted in various vivid hues, such as turquoise, orange and yellow, which would definitely liven up any outfit.
With light as the current collection’s inspiration, the brand uniquely (and surprisingly) takes a more youthful route with a play on shades, textures, and three-dimension printings.
New concept
Furla’s new concept store, which is reminiscent of the architectural details of the brand’s restored headquarters in Bologna, Italy (an 18th-century villa), provides the perfect setting for the brand’s more modern aesthetic.
“We took the shape of the doors of the villa and we replicated them within the store, among others,” said Bartoli.
The company founded by the Furlanetto family in 1927 now seeks to produce leather goods that are trendier but still reflect the brand’s ideology and rich heritage of 86 years.
Along with the ‘Candy’ bag, Furla gives a refreshing take on other bestsellers ‘Piper Lux’ handbag and ‘Venus’ satchel with bright summer hues and a mix of materials—all in fine Italian leather.
Of the brand’s latest direction, Furla president Giovanna Furlanetto said, “This boutique is among the first ones in the world showing the new concept store of the brand… confirming its international vocation and in line with the ambitious and significant developing plan of the company abroad.”
Furla is at Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City