Reborn in style: Cuoio di Toscana and Diego Dolcini bring Italian excellence to Milan

Leather smells of earth and time. It tells a story of hands working slowly, of gestures handed down through generations, of patience that takes shape. And when this ancient material meets the vision of a contemporary designer, something rare is born: an authentic “renaissance”, like the one celebrated on 24 September in Milan.

The occasion was special: the Consorzio Cuoio di Toscana, an international leader in the production of sole leather, celebrated its 40th anniversary with the second edition of RI-NASCIMENTO Vol.2, an event that combined style, innovation and Made in Italy culture. The star of the evening was the new Opanka women’s shoe, designed by Diego Dolcini, the feminine evolution of a project that had already conquered the scene with its men’s version.

The shoe uses the traditional Opanka technique, where the sole and upper are fused into a single element. An ancient technique reinterpreted with a modern spirit: the collection features eight colour variations, including nappa leather and laminate, and introduces GAIT-TECH® technology, a patented biomechanical device that guarantees comfort and stability without sacrificing aesthetics. It is the perfect combination of artisan savoir-faire and technological research: tradition that becomes movement, form that becomes function.

“Our goal is to transform tradition into a contemporary language, creating authentic, sustainable and forward-looking products,” commented Antonio Quirici, president of the Consortium. A statement that sums up the mission of Cuoio di Toscana, global spokesperson for a district of excellence in tanning rooted between Santa Croce sull’Arno and San Miniato, where historic companies such as Bonistalli e Stefanelli, Lamonti Cuoio and Volpi Concerie keep alive the slow vegetable tanning process using natural tannins from chestnut, mimosa and quebracho.