Seventy-five years ago, Marcello Gori and his brother-in-law, Silvano Casini, accepted the invitation of the Franciscan friars at the Basilica of Santa Croce to open a school to teach the leather-working trade to the orphans of the Second World War, moving their workshop from via del Corso to the dormitory premises designed by Michelozzo and the long wing with frescoes by the school of Ghirlandaio.
The headquarters of the Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School) are still in the same place and are now led by the founder’s daughters, Laura, Francesca and Barbara Gori, who with their children Tommaso Melani Gori, Filippo and Beatrice Parri Gori, have managed the generational shift, preserving the original artisanal culture and social vision of shared craftsmanship. Thirty-five artisans work there today, producing bespoke bags and personalized accessories using time-honoured manual techniques, including hand-gilding with 24-carat gold leaf, which customers can watch live. It can take up to five months to receive a fully handmade leather bag, and clients are willing to wait to own a customized piece, choosing the color, stitching, hardware and interior lining.
Ph. Alessandro Moggi
Ph. Alessandro Moggi
As part of its social commitment, the Marcello Gori Foundation was established in 2022. Every year, the foundation awards scholarships to young people at risk of social exclusion and to women who are victims of violence, helping them enter the workforce. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary, nine scholarships have been given to young people selected from applications proposed by the City of Florence’s social workers and the Artemisia association. Additionally, the foundation has financed the restoration of the facades and roofs of the Michelozzo courtyard inside the Basilica of Santa Croce. Last but not least, a coffee table book titled Scuola del Cuoio. Hands and Heart: The Tradition of the Gori Family has been published to mark the anniversary. Written by respected journalist Eva Desiderio with evocative photography by Alessandro Moggi, the 194-page publication tells the story of the renowned leather school, whose clientele has included presidents, royalty and movie stars.
