I met Era at a party in Rome many years ago. She was the most stylish woman in the room, funny, smart and inquisitive. Seeking adventure, we had both recently moved to Italy from the States, and became fast friends. I learned that she had left her publishing job in California after a car wreck that left her deeply upset. While recuperating, someone suggested leather crafting as a calming thing to do in bed. She happened to watch classic Italian cinema on her VCR, fell in love with Italy and the feel of stitching leather, and decided to move to Rome to see if she could find an apprenticeship. She did eventually after a long, hot August walking from one (usually closed) workshop to the next. Her maestro, Ferruccio Serrafini, became both her teacher and family. After many years perfecting her craft, she moved to a farm in La Maremma, southern Tuscany, where she lives today with her husband. Era makes custom leather bags and more from her studio near her hillside home.

This handsewn, fully lined tote is made in the sellaio (saddlemaker) style; each tiny hole is punched with a tool before stitching. The full-grain, vegetable-dyed calfskin has a naturally, slightly rippled surface and wears to a creamy hand. Exterior canvas is cotton/linen 50% from Italy; the striped interior is Lithuanian linen. Interior pockets.