Blue print: Fontana Milano 1915’s ‘A’ bag collaboration with Wallpaper*

To mark Wallpaper's 20th anniversary, we conceived a bespoke version of Fontana's Milano 1915's 'A' bag, the lower half hand-painted in the signature blue tone of the magazine.

(Image credit: Sam Hofman)

By Jack Moss

last updated 31 October 2022

in Features

It takes time to make one of Fontana Milano 1915’s ‘A’ bags. The family-run, Milan-based luxury leather goods house applies a century’s worth of accumulated expertise to each bag’s meticulous handcrafting.

From the careful selection of richly toned hide by the artisan cutters and the elimination of flaws, to the lining with soft nappa leather and the secure final stitching, the rigorously supervised process takes two or three days to complete.

’A’ bags on display — *Fontana Milano 1915’s 'A' bags on display in its Milan flagship*

To mark Wallpaper’s 20th anniversary last September, we added a further twist. Working closely with Fontana Milano 1915’s Porta Romana atelier, Wallpaper* creative director Sarah Douglas conceived a bespoke ‘A’ bag – a birthday gift to ourselves. The lower half of the honey-hued one-off was handpainted in Wallpaper* Blue, the magazine’s signature tone, created in collaboration with British paper mill James Cropper. A leather keyring, rendered as the Wallpaper* asterisk, also swings from the handle.

Our makeover comprised an elegant redressing of a quietly iconic bag, which was showcased at a party at Fontana Milano 1915's Milan flagship last month. The event also showcased four new other ‘A’ bag designs, imagined in varying shades of blue. In wonderfully wintery hues, these creations sat amongst a snowflake inspired cracked glass set, conceived by Frederik de Watcher.

As originally featured in the October 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*211)

Four other bags in varying blue hues — At an event at the brand's Milan flagship last month, four other bags in varying blue hues were also showcased

Bag showcased a winter-inspired set — The bags were showcased against a winter-inspired set, conceived by Frederik de Watcher and created using smashed glass

Four bags are showcased — The meticulously handcrafted 'A' bag takes two to three days to complete

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Fontana Milano 1915 website

Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*, joining the team in 2022. Having previously been the digital features editor at AnOther and digital editor at 10 and 10 Men magazines, he has also contributed to titles including i-D, Dazed, 10 Magazine, Mr Porter’s The Journal and more, while also featuring in Dazed: 32 Years Confused: The Covers, published by Rizzoli. He is particularly interested in the moments when fashion intersects with other creative disciplines – notably art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and reporting from international fashion weeks. Across his career, he has interviewed the fashion industry’s leading figures, including Rick Owens, Pieter Mulier, Jonathan Anderson, Grace Wales Bonner, Christian Lacroix, Kate Moss and Manolo Blahnik.

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