New e-commerce portal YouMody.com is putting Florentine artisans and family businesses on the international map. Merging quintessentially Tuscan traditions with technological innovation, the platform provides users far from Florence with a localized, personalized shopping experience. Spotlighting mom-and-pop shops and artisan botteghe, YouMody allows oft-overlooked small businesses to reach a mass market without compromising their commitment to true craftsmanship. 
Piccini white and yellow gold diamond ring
Developed by local publishing house Bulgarini, YouMody.com is a fully Florentine project, down to its finest details. Distinguishing YouMody from any old online shopping portal are its passeggiata properties: users shop by street, as if they were strolling through central Florence. Rather than flipping through page after page of products, you select the street you want to explore from a list. With the click of a mouse, you’re virtually transported to the heart of historic Florence. Participating shops appear as you make your way down the ultra-luxe via Tornabuoni or chic Oltrarno stretches like borgo San Jacopo and via de’ Bardi. You can then take a digital ‘step’ inside, getting a glimpse of shops’ interiors and browsing through selected stock—all items from all featured businesses are 100 percent made in Italy.
Giorgio Vannini boiled wool jacketFor expats in Florence, transporting high-quality gifts back home to friends and family can be a tough undertaking. But YouMody takes out the hassle of customs clearing and packaging stress, offering free worldwide shipping.
Alcozer earrings with rubies, pearls and Swarovski crystals
Accessible via tablet, smartphone and desktop computers, YouMody is set to expand as summer begins: it already offers access to 30 artisan spaces and local shops, but by June this number will more than triple. Businesses in the lineup range from fine jewelers (Piccini, Zaccaro) to purse proprietors (Bojola) and beyond.
Bojola leather bag
Baroni cotton dress
