Exclusive, refined and original, the fashion created by Le Daf moves with agility between needle and thread, weaving the uniqueness of handmade artisan bags. Each bag is a unique piece, bearing an originality that captures the eye and heart of anyone who crosses its path. Behind the brand and its success is Edoardo Pezzuto, creator and founder of Le Daf, who went from being a merchant to a master craftsman. ‘I started creating and designing my bags back in 1999,’ he says. The initial positive reactions surprised me so much that, thanks to constant study and continuous research, the experience was transformed, day after day, into authentic craftsmanship. The entrepreneurial side, inherited from my father, then allowed me to develop my company, transforming it into a recognised local and national excellence.”
Which of your creations do you consider more ‘iconic’ than the Le Daf brand?
Definitely the Paffutella, characterized by the snap-on marble closure inspired by the “Pin” zipper of a series of bags found by chance in an old crate of my grandmother. Born in 2004, Paffutella has always been much loved by the public and, alas, much copied by all our competitors and has become the undisputed signature of our brand.
Can you tell us about the latest Le Daf collection?
I am very excited about a work we are developing together with artisan workshops in Sardinia where, starting from their loom weaving, I enjoy intervening with hand paints and laminations, thus making each product unique and visually striking. These cfeations are part of the Le Daf Resort line, which is in high demand by our international audience and is our best seller in Miami, the Cyclades Islands and Barbados.
What time is the market experiencing?
Today the accessories market is very congested and flat. The grueling pursuit of the latest trends and brands has given less force to the creative proposition; if we add to this situation fast fashion, which arrives from Asian countries in rivers and without control over our markets, we understand how such a level of saturation has been reached. Our salvation is having always maintained a 100% Made in Italy authenticity, with niche artisanal workmanship and high standards of customer satisfaction, both qualitatively and emotionally, because the emotional aspect is a fundamental part of the purchasing process. We are distributed in important concept stores in Italy, Europe and also in America.
How important is sustainability to the brand?
The most important sustainability, for me, is that of the short supply chain and primarily reuse: a circular economy that, before restarting something, seeks to reuse, recycle, and customize everything stored in warehouses, according to the needs and tastes of the times we live in.
Which designers, past and contemporary, do you appreciate most and have influenced your creativity?
Certainly Flemish people like Dries Van Noten, but also Antonio Marras and Chanel. Compared to the last shows, I was particularly impressed by the collections presented by Chanel and Dior, for their freshness and ability to reinvent themselves while always maintaining their own identity.
If you were going out shopping, which store would you go to and to buy which fashion accessory?
I’ve traveled extensively this year, both in Italy and abroad, and I must confess that fewer and fewer stores are attracting my interest, especially in Italy, precisely because of the lack of research done by those who manage them: everything is standardized, from the small store to the large retail chain. Abroad they are more dynamic and curious. In Italy there is a great deal of fear of daring at the moment.
If you were to face a creative crisis today, who or where would you go to overcome it?
I definitely wouldn’t seek help in Artificial Intelligence. Rather, I think I would look back, starting from the first products I created, which are an expression of a time when the stimuli were strong and decisive.
