Italians are good at “patching things up.” Above all, Luciano Vivolo, the inventor of leather patches and now the world leader in the production of leather accessories for clothing, footwear, and leather goods!
Starting from scratch, Vivolo has evolved his company into an international benchmark brand that supplies luxury fashion brands such as Armani, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Cucinelli, Chanel, Dior, Fay, Gucci, Tom Ford, Hermès, Ralph Lauren, Loewe, Alexander McQueen, Moncler, Moschino, Saint Laurent, Tod’s and Louis Vuitton, to name but a few.
But let’s retrace the history of Vivolo, a true example of Italian excellence, capable of combining traditional craftsmanship with a green vision.
The origins of success
Luciano Vivolo, born in 1961, the third of seven children, left Bagnoli Irpino (Avellino) at the age of 16 and moved to Bologna with grand ambitions. He does various jobs, and in his spare time, together with his wife Marianna, he works with leather for a tannery. One day, a simple gesture – using scraps of leather to patch up his son’s torn tracksuit – gave rise to an idea: transforming scraps into leather patches.
In Bologna, the patches quickly became a success, and in 1977 Luciano founded Vivolo, choosing his initials (LV) as the logo, reminiscent of the famous Louis Vuitton logo.
Growth and the leap into fashion
In the 1970s and 1980s, decorative patches were all the rage: the Vivolo brand rode the trend. The turning point came in 1980, when Luciano Vivolo decided to send samples to Corriere della Sera, proposing them as gadgets for the group’s magazines. “Two weeks later, I was summoned by Angelo Rizzoli. First, he asked me what they were for, then he ordered a million pairs,” Vivolo said in an interview. It is the start of larger-scale production.
It was the beginning of the company’s evolution: no longer just patches, but also leather accessories, inserts, labels, buckles, tags, and clothing, footwear, and leather goods accessories for luxury brands.
Evolution between tradition and innovation
Over the years, Vivolo has successfully combined traditional Italian craftsmanship with the latest production technologies. The company has invested in research and development and introduced cutting-edge processing and finishing techniques, while maintaining the high standards of craftsmanship that set it apart.
Each accessory is manufactured in Italy, with painstaking attention to detail, choice of materials, and manufacturing techniques. This approach guarantees not only quality and uniqueness but also the transmission of a cultural heritage reflected in every product.
The green soul of Made in Italy
Vivolo understands that true elegance cannot be separated from respect for the environment.
This is why it has embarked on a comprehensive sustainability programme, establishing itself as a pioneer in the use of environmentally friendly practices and materials.
The decision to adopt production processes with reduced environmental impact, the use of leather tanned using natural methods and the continuous search for innovative solutions make Vivolo a model of social and ecological responsibility. In an industry often criticised for its environmental impact, every accessory made by Vivolo tells a story of ethics and responsibility, where beauty is never an end in itself.
Accessories for every need: fashion, footwear and leather goods
Versatility is another of Vivolo’s strengths. The company makes leather accessories designed to meet the needs of designers, brands and manufacturers in the clothing, footwear and leather goods sectors.
From labels to patches, from decorations to finishes, each creation is the result of in-depth knowledge of trends and constant dialogue with customers, offering tailor-made and customised solutions.
The company today
Today, Vivolo, based in San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna) – in its new headquarters, inaugurated in 2023 and designed with a green approach – is a world leader in high-fashion accessories, also made from vegan materials such as bananas, pears, wood, apples, cacti, grapes…
The company is family-run – Luciano’s four children hold managerial positions in the business – and has around a hundred employees and a turnover of tens of millions of euros.
Congratulations to those who bring creativity and Made in Italy to the world!
Discover other examples of outstanding Italian companies in the world of fashion.