Sustainable Leather Is Slowly Becoming a Reality

Fashion brands are finally waking up to the need for sustainable leather.

Leather is one of the oldest, most durable, and beautiful materials in the fashion world. Unlike most materials, it appeals to more than one sense - the hands, nose, and eyes - and fills a vital role in countless products. 

Sadly, it’s also the cause of lots of pollution. 

As designers of leather handbags, we need to talk about the sustainability of leather. 

Before the 21st Century, consumer culture was slower. It kept pace with the speed of life. Today, technology has accelerated the rate at which new products appear and has made it easier to both market and obtain them. Consequently, hot new items and fashion trends come and go faster than ever. That means more materials pulled into the production line, more chemicals, and more waste. 

Some big brands that produce this 'fast fashion,' use all kinds of low quality materials, cheaply produced, that are made to last no longer than a season. Low cost materials very quickly become pollutants. In the leather industry, meanwhile, more cattle are being raised for their hides, producing more chemical runoff and more products that quickly head to landfills. 

In fact, according to Gizmodo, "The current worldwide market for leather is booming: The 23 billion square feet produced annually is worth more than $77 billion (US), according to recent estimates published in the Journal. Leather footwear is far and away the largest outlet for the stuff, valued at at $47 billion—over 60 percent of the world total trade in the 2009/10 period—while the next largest outlet, leather goods and products (including gloves) were worth about $12.3 billion and constituted 15.9 percent of the total world trade. Leather clothing, auto upholstery, home furnishings, and miscellaneous other uses rounded out the remaining outlets with between 8 and 14 percent shares."

Clearly, the leather industry needs to be aware of their environmental impact and look for ways to become more sustainable. 

Purchasing fewer items of higher quality that last longer is a step consumers can take to lessen their own environmental impact. This approach, known as "slow fashion," is gaining ground and opening a path for companies that want to make sustainability their main value proposition. 

Measures adopted by these 'eco-companies' are aimed at ensuring their leather comes from producers that treat cattle humanely, minimize chemical use and waste, conserve water, adopt environmental innovations, and work to raise customers' awareness about conscious consumption. 

The broader leather industry has even begun to take notice and, according to Vogue Magazine, "is working to create a transparent supply chain so that best practices are rewarded by customers. Efforts are also underway to market leather as a lasting, eco-friendly material." 

In Italy, a country known for producing the best leather in the world, some suppliers have managed to reduce pollution by 80 percent. One example is Nature L leather goods. Produced by Nuvolari Conceria, Nature-L is 75 percent biodegradable and is produced with less waste and pollution than traditional leather, yet doesn't compromise on quality. 

While big brands have a responsibility to reduce their environmental impact, small brands typically have the flexibility to change suppliers and implement new processes quickly. Consequently, it's these smaller, independent fashion companies that often spearhead changes the wider industry eventually adopts. Buying leather goods, like handbags for women, from these small companies is a great way to help advance 'slow fashion' practices. 

At Nantív, we think the best route to sustainability is to use high quality materials that last a long time. We work only with the very softest leather from top-rated Italian tanneries that adhere to environmentally sustainable practices. And, although we follow the latest trends, we design our bags with a classic, timeless appeal so they'll look great for decades, not just a season or two. 

Our planet has enough to worry about already without millions of extra pounds of discarded leather. 

Let's take it slow. 

Love and Flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

These Inspiring Women are Feeding Colombia's Hungry Children

We love stories about inspiring women. We love supporting those women even more.

At Nantív, we love to share stories of inspiring women. 

We created #FlowWithPurpose to do just that by highlighting women who embody Nantív's values of generosity, love, and community and who transform their lives and the lives of others. 

Isabel and her daughter Ines Navas are two such women.

One day in 1997, the women were leading a training program for mothers in La Capilla, a small municipality about a two-hour drive from Bogota, Colombia. La Capilla is in an area known as 'El Cordón de Miseria' (The Zone of Misery) due to its poverty, crime, and lack of social services. 

Outside the meeting-room where Isabel and Ines were working, a small boy was standing on tiptoes, peeking through a window at the women. They approached and asked him if he had eaten lunch yet. To their dismay, the boy replied, "No ladies, it's not my turn to eat lunch this week." 

That sad encounter prompted the women to start FIAMBRE, a children's canteen aimed at ensuring no child ever went hungry in La Capilla. Today, the non-profit FIAMBRE Foundation is still providing free, nutritious food to the children of La Capilla. Ines, along with a dedicated team of women, feed the children twice a day, every weekday, while working to improve their living conditions in a myriad of other ways. 

Six women, who all live in La Capilla, work alongside Ines: Lilia, Rosalba, Martha, Olga, Rubiela, and Ingrid. Together, they've made a huge impact in La Capilla by eliminating the fear and discomfort of hunger and thus enabling the area's children to study and play better. 

Moreover, despite the persistent funding issues and many other challenges of running an expensive non-profit, Ines and her team are driven by the love and passion they feel for their work. In other words, they #FlowWithPurpose.

Rosalba has been with the foundation for 14 years and heads FIAMBRE's kitchen operations. She's committed, enthusiastic, and willing to do whatever it takes to offer delicious, healthy meals to La Capilla's children. 

Lilia is a single mother with a kind heart. 

Ingrid, who has been with FIAMBRE for four years, is the youngest team member and brings her own brand of youthful joy to the team. 

Rubiela, also a four-year team-member, is known as happy and funny. 

Martha, a hardworking, resilient single-mother, has been at FIAMBRE for 13 years. 

Olga has been committed to the organization for more than 13 years. 

Unfortunately, when the COVID-19 lockdown began, FIAMBRE was legally forced to close its community kitchen. Still, that didn't stop the team from fulfilling their mission. They simply pivoted to delivering meals to children's homes. 

Delivering food to hundreds of homes, however, requires more people, time, and supplies than FIAMBRE has. In particular, the team needs grocery baskets to transport their meals. They started a Give Lively fundraising campaign last month to try to meet their $5,000 financial need. So far, they've raised $1,054 of that goal. 

At Nantív, we're doing our part to support FIAMBRE by donating a percentage of each handbag sale to the organization. We believe strongly in their cause but, also, in the team's spirit. In fact, we've always designed our handbags with that spirit in mind, for women who embody that spirit, for 'Nantív women'. 

Who is a Nantív woman? She's driven by purpose, yet still spontaneous. She's realistic, independent, and motivated by personal discovery and growth. She eagerly embraces the unknown while seeking moments of transcendence. She derives great pleasure and inspiration from simple experiences. She gives generously and loves deeply. 

In other words, she's Isabel, Ines, Lilia, Rosalba, Martha, Olga, Rubiela, and Ingrid. 

Love and Flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

Briefcase Bags are Actually Great for Summer

Briefcase bags are stylish and practical for any season. Yes, even summer.

For centuries, briefcases lived firmly in the male domain - from the loculus of Roman legionaries to 19th - century British Red Boxes to the staid, hardshell cases favored by 1950's business executives. 

As culture loosened up in the 1960's and 70's, designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin began bucking tradition by introducing cooler, less business-like briefcases. Then, in the 1980's, other big-name designers ushered in ladies' briefcases as women increasingly entered the white-collar workforce. 

Today, with women representing nearly half of the total global labor force, briefcases and briefcase-style handbags for women are indispensable. Modern women need a structured bag with simple geometry that can hold an iPad or small laptop, a cellphone, documents, and anything else a busy professional might need. 

Until recently, though, briefcases hardly looked like the best summer handbags. They tended toward sober designs with a distinctly fall/winter feel. They also looked out-of-place beyond office hours. 

Thankfully, many brands now offer briefcases that look right in any weather. Even better, some bags have a spring/summer vibe.

Here are four reasons to carry a briefcase even after the warm weather hits: 

1. Staying in shape - Briefcase bags are not only roomy, they don’t lose their shape with added weight. That makes them ideal for work, a casual outing, shopping, or just busy days when you’re carrying additional gadgets and need to bring along a pair of sneakers to do some walking. There's no reason you can't also throw a bottle of sunscreen, some flip flops, and a thermos in there and head out on that summer excursion after work. 

2. Getting a move on - The practicality and spaciousness of briefcases make them ideal travel bags. Briefcases typically have just one large compartment. Some, however, have extra pockets which are great for travel documents, medicine, makeup, and other carry-alongs. They also make for a stylish alternative to all the backpacks and oversized crossbodies most summer travelers carry. And God knows many airports and ports could use a dash of style. 

3. A place in the sun - Many brands now offer briefcases in a wide variety of interesting colors. Pink, green, yellow, and orange have recently dominated this trend and make a great compliment to your summer outfits. Colorful briefcase bags, in fact, can be the most eye-catching part of your outfit and add a dash of hustle to your bustle (see what we did there?). 

4. As the case may be - Briefcase-like bags such as minimalist leather satchels and leather totes are also great options for women who aren't ready to go full briefcase. The styles are, of course, less formal, but can be ideal for women looking for comfort and a unique summer accessory. As long as it fits your lunch, gym clothes, legal briefs, heels, breast pumps, and anything else you need, just keep doing you. 

TIV: Our own briefcase 

TIV is our idea of the perfect feminine briefcase. It’s rectangular and can hold most 13” laptops while remaining slim and compact. It can be worn over the shoulder, like a satchel, or as a crossbody. It strikes the perfect professional tone at a presentation, on a business trip, or on a summer outing. 

Like all Nantív bags, it's handcrafted by the best Italian artisans, using the softest leather and highest quality hardware. It's available in four colors - forest green, cream, chocolate, and black - and was born out of our passion for design and principles of flow. 

At Nantív, we study women's movements and gestures to create bags that are comfortable, functional, and that compliment modern women's lifestyle. No matter the season. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

Eight Tips to Match Your Handbags with Your Accessories

The right handbag completes your look. The right handbag with the right accessories elevates it to a whole new level. Here's how to do it.

Forget the past. 

Matching your handbag with your shoes or belt is passé. Today, fashion is all about combining accessories in new and interesting ways. Fashion influencers are breaking old laws by mixing styles and colors to create contemporary, edgy looks. 

This new reality is liberating, but can also be confusing. How do you find the best combo for everyday wear? 

Here are eight tips to help you navigate contemporary pairings: 

1. Color Play - When it comes to color, you've got three options to play with: 

• Hue: Combine accessories that have the same or a similar hue. This will give you a nice, soft contrast and an understated look. Patterns will also look neat and organized. The effect is simple and elegant without being too traditional. 

• Contrast: Let colors meet their opposites. For example, nude shoes with a purple bag, or electric blue shoes with a yellow bag. It all depends on the occasion. Formal events and weddings are not the venue for this. Brunch and happy hour are. 

• Disruption: Explore combos that neither share a hue, nor obviously contrast with each other. We’re talking about colors from opposite sides of the track that aren’t regularly seen together. Purple and green, for example. It’ll take confidence to pull off but, if it works, you’ll be repaid in compliments for your bravery.

2. Print Pop - If you’re carrying a printed bag, consider wearing a monochromatic outfit, then add an accessory that matches a color in your bag's print. If your bag has a floral print with lots of green, try wearing a white t-shirt with a dark green pashmina or necklace. The colors will echo each other and make each one pop. 

3. Not Too Busy - Just because rules are more lenient now, doesn't mean it's a free-for-all. Don't wear bags and shoes with different patterns. The effect will be too busy. 

4. I’ts The Season - summer bags are for summer. Winter shoes are for winter. Your straw tote or beach hat paired with boots is just confusing people. Likewise with your sandals and heavy leather handbag combo. 

5. Right Place, Right Time - Just like you should avoid blending seasonal wear, you'll also want to avoid blending occasions. Club, beach, date, office, and sport accessories shouldn't meet each other. Your running shoes, in other words, shouldn't be hanging out with your stiff, boxy handbag. They won't get along. There may be times when a 'somewhat' formal handbag can work with 'somewhat' casual shoes, but the shoes should be high-end and in great condition. 

6. Finish It Off - While it's fun to play with colors, prints, and styles for a unique, contemporary look, it's still a good idea to match finishes. So, if the zipper and clasps on your handbag is silver, you may want to make sure any hardware on your shoes is also silver. Pairing silver jewelry with your handbag's hardware is also a good idea, but there are always creative exceptions. 

7. Paint It Black - A black bag goes perfectly with almost anything. If you don't have the time or patience to experiment with all those accessories in your closet, just grab a black handbag and go have a drink. Cheers! 

8. Au Naturel - Natural colors, like tan or saddle, are also a get-out-of-accessorizing-free card. Like black, they go well with almost anything and allow you to focus on spicing up your other accessories instead. 

In short, the matchy-matchy days are over. Now, as ever, accessories are just as important as your outfit, but experimentation is the new chicness. 

At Nantív, we offer designer leather bags in a variety of colors and styles. Visit our online store to see our current collection of bags - EVE, TIV, VINT and VITA - which can be creatively matched with other accessories. We always aim for classic elegance with our designs, but love to see our bags paired with accessories and outfits in ways we never thought possible. 

Surprise, as they say, is the greatest gift. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

How to Limit Your Handbag's Weight and Carry it Without Ruining Your Posture

A heavy handbag can affect your posture. Here are some tricks to avoid excess weight and carry it the right way.

The right handbag can define or transform your look. More importantly, your handbag affects the way you move. Body language, experts believe, is 55 percent of communication. Body language is also a factor in your personal style. Discomfort and doubt is a style-killer. Comfort and confidence enhances every look. 

As the saying goes, it's not what you wear, but how you wear it. Heat, itchy outfits, and uncomfortable shoes can ruin your comfort. Just a few extra pounds in your handbag, meanwhile, can affect your posture and fatigue you, killing your style. 

Here are some tips to limit your bag's weight and to carry it correctly:

1. The Ten Percent Rule: Experts recommend carrying no more than ten percent of your bodyweight in your handbag. So if you're 110lbs, your bag should top out at eleven pounds. More than that and your neck, shoulders, and back could suffer, leading to pain, muscle aches, and headaches. 

2. Favor the Forearm: Physiotherapists advise not carrying your handbag on your shoulder, which is a fragile part of the human anatomy. Constant weight on one shoulder can force the shoulder forward and down. Over time, the muscles in the upper back and neck can begin to stretch, leading to weakness and pain. Instead, look for a bag with wide, padded handles and carry it on your forearm.

3. Switch It Up: If you can't avoid carrying your bag on your shoulder, like with a leather crossbody bag, look for one with a comfortable strap and switch shoulders every 15 minutes. 

4. No Swinging: Adjust your bag’s straps and position it to avoid swinging your bag while walking. The back and forth motion of a too heavy bag can throw off your gait, causing a posture imbalance and lead to pain.

5. Bare Necessities: Has anyone ever picked up your bag and exclaimed, “What do you have in this thing?!” Sometimes, you're not even sure why your bag is so heavy. What’s adding all that weight?: 

• Charms: Sure, these give your handbag a fun, new vibe, but they don’t need to be there all the time. Remove them if you’re already carrying an extra load. 

• Books and notepads: If you carry these in your bag, look for compact editions and small writing pads. Make photocopies if you just need sections of a book. Better yet, use an app to store and create content. 

• Pens and highlighters: These things have a way of multiplying quickly inside your bag. Do you need all of them? Do you actually use them? Be realistic about how often you use a wide selection of pens. 

• Business cards and receipts: Do you keep old receipts and business cards that end up a tattered mess inside your bag? Small pockets have a way of accumulating clutter. Banish what you don’t need. 

• Makeup: How much makeup do you carry, your whole cosmetic bag or just enough to retouch during the day? Go for the latter. 

In short, clear the clutter and don’t make excess weight a habit. Leather handbag designers consider weight very carefully during the design phase. Every detail — hardware, zippers, layers of leather — are weighed to achieve an ideal weight. Approach your bag the same way. Consider every item you carry. A heavy bag isn’t just bad for your back and posture, it’s bad for your spirit - not to mention your style. 

Nantív makes lightweight handbags for women that are designed to flow with your movements. We study gait and gestures to create bags that are comfortable, functional, and that compliment modern women's lifestyle. 

Check out our current collection, which includes our bags VITA, EVE, VINT, and TIV. Each one is handcrafted by the best Italian artisans, using the softest leather and highest quality hardware. 

Love and Flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

Italian Leather is the Best in the World. Here’s Why.

You found the perfect Italian leather handbag. Its shape, color, and style are exactly what you were looking for. But, how much do you know about the material it’s made from?

Leather handbags are not all created equal. They can be made from cowhide, calfskin, goatskin, lambskin, sheepskin, or a number of other hides sourced from various regions. 

Different hides have different strengths and weaknesses and, therefore, are used to make different products. Italian leather, and especially calfskin, however, is the preferred hide for most high-end handbag makers. 

Why Calfskin? 

Cowhide (from adults) is the strongest and most durable animal hide. It’s commonly used in shoes, belts, and protective gear, like biker jackets. 

Calfskin (from juveniles), while also durable, is thinner, softer, and more malleable. Visually, it has fewer imperfections than cowhides, which can be marked by scars, insect bites, or stretch marks.

Those qualities, and its ability to age beautifully, make it a top choice for high-end accessories like gloves, wallets, and luxury leather bags. 

Why Italian? 

Italy has a tradition of leather-making stretching back nearly a millennium. Florence, in particular, has been the epicenter of the craft. Craftspeople there learn their skills in dedicated trade schools under the direction of old world masters. 

That long heritage and infrastructure has resulted in a wealth of generational knowledge about raising cattle and hide selection. Tanneries in the country, meanwhile, use precise, time-tested manufacturing techniques to guarantee hides will have a smooth, even thickness, to allow for straight, neat stitching. 

Most importantly, while the global leather industry today is increasingly technology-driven, Italian artisans rely on a blend of high-tech innovations and human expertise and instinct. That leaves their leather with a soft, pliable quality and a signature earthy scent, making it perfect for the intricate handcrafting of luxury products, like women’s handbags.

Sustainability 

Environmental sustainability is more important than ever. For that reason, leather substitutes have recently hit the market. Bamboo, cactus, and pineapple are just some of the new “vegan leathers” to appear. 

While these new options are a great development, they don't replicate the experience of real leather. The feel and smell is different. And vegan leather doesn't develop the same beautiful patina that real leather does as it ages. The ability to recreate realistic-looking pores and other textures, meanwhile, is limited due to the material's lower pliability. 

Vegan leather is also not entirely without environmental concerns.

Faux leathers are reinforced with additional materials to give structure and malleability. Those materials are often synthetic films that make up as much as fifty percent of the overall product. 

Genuine leather, in our view, is a better environmental choice because, unlike synthetics, it’s biodegradable. A new technology, patented last year in Italy, allows for 75 percent biodegradability of leather. Ongoing research is aiming to make the remaining 25 percent biodegradable, too. Still, that remaining portion is not nearly as harmful as synthetic waste. 

Certainly, there’s still work to be done in the leather industry to ensure better environmental sustainability. But investing in quality leather products that last decades, or even a lifetime, is one of the best ways to reduce waste. 

That’s why, at Nantív, we source only the best kind of leather from reputable Italian tanneries that adhere to cruelty-free animal practices, strive to improve biodegradability, limit chemical usage, and conserve water. 

Meanwhile, we have faith the industry will continue to evolve and that Nantív will be a part of that evolution. We’ll continue to tweak our processes and sourcing based on new research and developments.

Those values are reflected in our current handbag collection. Each bag is meticulously designed and handcrafted in Florence by old-world artisans who obsess over the smallest details. Our bags serve a variety of needs, lifestyles, and body-types. The VITA is a large leather tote; TIV is a medium-sized crossbody; EVE is a sweet, little satchel; and VINT is a one-of-a-kind bucket bag. 

The leather, of course, is Italian. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív