Italy has always been a cradle of high-quality, creative products, thanks to its mastery of blending traditional techniques with technology, heritage with innovation.
When we talk about quality, some countries immediately come to mind. There’s Switzerland for watches—oh, and cheese and chocolates, too. Then, of course, there’s Japan. Known for its unflinching dedication to quality (kodawari) and razor-sharp meticulousness (komakai). Buy almost anything from the Land of the Rising Sun (even konbini or convenience store food) and you’re assured of top-notch quality.
When it comes to the finer things in life, Italy is top of mind with its impeccable craftsmanship. If the Japanese are known for their innovation and perfectionism, a “Made in Italy” tag never fails to convey a sense of quality, elegance, excellence, and timelessness.
Think of luxury auto companies such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini, or even more affordable ones like Fiat. An article in Sports Illustrated magazine describes Italian cars as both a work of art and the “perfect distillation of the passion, flair, style, history, beauty, playfulness, drama, and madness that makes Italy such a special and spectacular country.” A Ferrari or Lamborghini does more than reveal the heart of this ancient, storied place, the article continues, it captures the essence of its very soul.
When it comes to food, the Italians are also way up there when it comes to quality. Long revered for its rich culinary heritage, Italy produces some of the world’s finest food items from cheeses to wines, pastas to produce (their tomatoes and olive oil are out of this world). If you’re looking for exceptional quality, look for the red “DOP” or PDO seal when buying anything from the boot-shaped country. Short for Denominazione di Origine Protetta (literally in English Protected Designation of Origin), this label guarantees that products you are eating are strictly grown, produced, and packaged locally, which means high quality.
Then, of course, there’s Italian fashion. Synonymous with luxury, elegance, and quality, Italy’s fashion industry is the envy of the world. Some cornerstones of Italian fashion date back to the 1500s, as per the official website of the Italian Trade Agency, such as the genuine leather goods of Florence, for instance, which encapsulate unique skills handed down over generations. On my very first trip to Florence with my mom 18 years ago, she bought a simple continental wallet as a keepsake at Mercato Nuovo, and the leather is still as smooth, supple, and soft after almost two decades.
If a humble wallet purchased from a nondescript stall at an open-air market in Firenze is able to withstand the test of time (and cruel climate conditions if I may add), then more so products from Italy’s iconic luxury houses. This is why the likes of Fendi, Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Bottega Veneta, and so many others will always be synonymous with timelessness and impeccable craftsmanship. It brings to mind a memorable ad for a luxury watch brand (though not Italian)—you never actually buy something from these brands for yourself, you merely look after it for the next generation.
Apart from its long history of excellence in craftsmanship that has so deeply influenced the global fashion industry, Italy has also mastered the sourcing of the best fabrics, employing a painstaking meticulousness when it comes to detail and finishing. Integrating all of these—history, innovation, creativity, and industrial processes—is the reason why the Italian textile industry is a huge success, making the country the second biggest exporter of apparel in the world.
Italian craftsmanship is also seen in its thriving accessories sector, including jewelry, with brands such as Bulgari and Gucci, and its evolving cosmetics industry represented by labels such as Kiko Milano, Santa Maria Novella, and Acqua di Parma.
In terms of design and architecture, Italy is also a powerhouse of esteemed home furnishing brands such as Cassina, Giorgetti, Cappellini, and Porro. There’s also Valcucine which recently opened a new showroom at The Proscenium in Rockwell.
So why is Italian craftsmanship a cut above the rest? We’ve already mentioned factors such as history, with the answer to the question we can partly trace all the way back to the great Italian artists whose influence endures to this day: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Lorenzetti, Modigliani, Balla, and others.
Laura Morelli, an art historian and bestselling author, writes that medieval craft guilds have long ceased to exist, but the techniques, skills, knowledge, and the spirit of Italian tradition is still intact in world-class objects such as Murano glass, Florentine leather, and even Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. “These traditions are kept alive in the hands of thousands of artisans who take pride in their regional specialties, so ingrained that even in the twenty-first century the products of their labor are recognized around the world as a benchmark of quality,” she adds.
Italian textile company l’Opificio, meanwhile, describes Italian craftsmanship as the epitome of enduring excellence. “The heart of Italian craftsmanship resides in the artisanal mastery bequeathed from one generation to the next,” its website states. This is evident in how most premium Italian brands are family-owned, with the reins passed on from one generation to the next.
Moreover, every facet of the textile creation process, from conception to cutting, sewing, and final touches, is meticulously executed by the adept hands of master seamstresses. These artisans dedicate years to honing their craft, and in the process, preserving Italy’s cultural heritage, and perpetuating centuries-old traditions.
Roberto Minotti, CEO of family-owned Italian luxury furnishings company Minotti, says in an interview with Architectural Digest that the best Italian-made products “blend tradition and technology in an indissoluble way.” “Artisan expertise puts the finishing touches to products that are manufactured employing cutting-edge production methods, while intelligent hands lend sensitivity and emotion to industrial precision,” he explains.
It all boils down to keeping time-honored traditions alive while making sure to keep up with the times. Italian craftsmanship is a product of the marriage of the past, present, and future, allowing it to endure the scourge of time.
We cannot deny the huge economic relevance of Italy’s many industries, making it the tenth biggest economy in the world by GDP. But beneath each of these lies a deeper, more enduring global influence: “Made in Italy” products, whether for fashion or home, automotive or food, embody passion, dedication, and an obsession with beauty. They are expressions of one country’s long and rich history and its unique and splendid cultural legacy.
I can go on and on about why Italy is a bastion of all things beautiful, because it is indeed no exaggeration to say that the impact of the country’s craftsmanship has been — and continues to be— prodigious and inspiring. I bet it will be for the thousands of years to come.
