Prototipista is an Italian word that refers to a person who makes the first model of a bag, embodying a designer’s idea into a physical prototype. In Italy, I worked as a prototipista at ‘kuoyo’, a model workshop in Florence making prototypes of bag designs for European luxury brands such as Givenchy, Maison Margiela, Alexander McQueen and Burberry. It was quite difficult but very interesting to translate the sketches of high-end fashion designers into products. To prepare for the upcoming fashion weeks, I was working together with designers on developing their bags before the finished prototypes appeared on the runways. I was also involved in the pre-production process to find problems, if any, and present better solutions with new or alternative crafting techniques and methods until the final models would be in production. A prototipista from Florence, who made bags for luxury houses, is now releasing her first label being a designer and maker herself. The idea of creating my own bag brand was my long-held dream. I spent many years thinking about what my bags should be like: a bag that you will wear long, a bag that you will want to keep long. I swear I will create them with all my heart.    

Mano means “hand” in Italian. Among those working in the Italian handbag industry, mano also refers to the “tactile sensation on the hand” from touching something. Hands can feel, in an overall and intuitive way, a wide range of sensations including the surface texture of a material, resilience after it is folded, and the weight of it when you hold it in the hand. Neither more nor less, these sensations are hard to be labeled with words, numbers or images to further identify and specify the details. It is the “mano” that both a designer and a prototipista focus on developing for the first prototype. Therefore, a well-made bag means a bag with a good mano. A good design is settled at the first step of bag making while a good mano is completed at the last step of bag making. A good design is created by a designer while a good mano is developed by a prototipista. Handcraft and handmade are sometimes synonymous with luxury and high-end brands. Although it is not easy to define which part is handmade and which part is not, putting higher values on handwork is good to know. However, I believe that the true value of handcraft is created by the sensation on the hand, not by hand labor. The strength of Macchinist resides in its efforts to create a bag with a good mano, a good tactile sensation on the hand.

Macchinista, which means seamstress in Italian, is derived from “macchina da cucire”, the Italian word for sewing machine. Our brand name Macchinist comes from macchinista. Bringing new designs to life each time was quite challenging. It was macchinistas who were always there for me when I faced difficulties and my own limitations. in a desperate situation, Big-hearted and very supportive, they offered warm comforting words and technical advice based on their long careers and profound expertise. Looking back, I realize that the most heartwarming moments while working in Italy were when I was with them. Italian leather industry tends to take a more old-fashioned attitude. People in charge of bag making are often male, but those who actually engage in the whole process of bag making are female macchinistas with artisanal prowess. The world-renowned luxury brands focus the spotlight on their talented designers and glamorous supermodels on the runway shows. I want the hands and hearts of macchinistas to come into the spotlight for their meticulous work and excellent performance. The brand ‘Macchinist’ pays homage to countless seamstresses in Italy including the ones I worked with, named Santina, Alessandra, Nunzia and more. It is a tribute to all the women who are working hard where they are at.