The Dark Side of 'Discounting': How Low Prices Are Killing Italian Craftsmanship

The discount that gives you nothing
“Up to 70% off! Unmissable deal!” Unfortunately, behind these numbers lies a very high cost: the disappearance of 28% of Italian artisan businesses since 2000 (ISTAT, 2023). Here's what lies behind the illusion of savings.

1. The toxic mathematics of saving

• Official data : Second CNA (National Confederation of Crafts) , an Italian artisan belt requires on average 4-6 hours of specialized work , including leather selection, manual cutting and finishing.

• Shocking comparison : A mass-produced faux leather belt in Asia requires less than 30 minutes (ILO, 2022), with wages often below €3 per hour (Fashion Revolution, 2023).

The discount is like an Instagram filter: it hides imperfections, but erases authenticity.

2. When the environmental cost is not in balance

• Chemical pollution : 58% of low-cost tanneries in Asia use chromium VI, a toxic substance banned in Europe since 2015 ( European Chemicals Agency ).

• Italian Excellence : Certified Tanneries ICEC they recycle 92% of the water and use vegetable tannins (e.g. chestnut), reducing the environmental impact by 65% ​​compared to traditional methods ( UNIC, 2023 ).

3. The illusion of “democratic luxury”

• The Low-Cost Leather Scam : 62% of bags sold as “leather” under €100 use split leather (resin-reinforced waste) according to Lineapelle (2023) . Average duration? 8-12 months.

• Artisan reality : A Pelle Nuda Milano bag requires 18-24 manual steps certified by Confartigianato , with full-grain leather that lasts 15+ years.

4. Who pays the bill? The decline of historic professions

• Social crisis : In Tuscany, the heart of Italian leather goods, 1,200 craft jobs have disappeared since 2010 (Florence Chamber of Commerce, 2023).

• Emblematic testimony : As reported Il Sole 24 Ore , many master tanners are abandoning the sector: “Young people don’t want to learn a trade that the market doesn’t value.”

5. Choose Italian artisan products for their intrinsic quality

Opting for Italian craftsmanship is not a whim of connoisseurs. It is a smart strategy for those who seek objects that combine beauty, durability and ethics. Here's why it's worth every euro:

Why artisan quality beats (by far) the discount

1. Materials that age like good wine :

   • The full-grain Italian leather used by Pelle Nuda improves over the years, developing a unique patina , unlike synthetic leathers that flake off after a season ( Lineapelle, 2023 ).

   • “A fast fashion bag is like a meme: funny today, forgotten tomorrow. A handmade bag is a literary classic: it lasts.”

2. Age-old techniques, not TikTok tutorials :

   • Every handcrafted product is born from knowledge passed down through generations . For example, sewing by hand with linen thread lasts 5 times longer than industrial stitching ( Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana, 2022 ).

   • Historical data :
     Florentine workshops in the 16th century were already using vegetable tannins. If it worked for the Medici, it will work for your style.

3. Ethics without compromise :

   • The 78% of Italian leather goods pays wages higher than the industry average (+25% compared to fast fashion) and guarantees regular contracts ( CNA, 2023 ).

    

Would you rather save €50 today, or support those who work without exploitation? The choice is a test of character.

Ask the brand, “What’s the story behind this product?” If the answer starts with, “We have a special offer…,” run away!

A handmade bag doesn't need a red tag to be desirable. It needs you, who knows how to recognize the value beyond the price.

If the price seems too low, ask yourself: what did they cut? Quality, ethics, or the future of the craft? ”

The biggest discount? Not having to buy twice

Imagine in 15 years:
That fast fashion belt is long gone. Your Pelle Nuda, on the other hand, is still there: with its marks, its stories, its value intact. Without discounts, but with all the honesty of those who know that true luxury is what remains.

Choosing craftsmanship is not a cost. It is an act of cultural resistance.

Ready to pay the right price? Find out our creations.