“i santi”: 60 years of fine Italian leather goods.


“My whole life is in this brand: the story of my work, my family, and our company; the many colleagues who have worked beside me over the years and helped us grow and become successful; and the long friendship with many suppliers and customers, who have always stayed with us and encouraged us to do better.
For this, my family and I wish to thank everyone.

Amato Santi




A great Italian company


Since 1947, “i santi” has been famous as an outstanding brand of fine Italian leather goods, with a constantly renewed and exclusive production designed for demanding customers who care about quality.
The secret of the company’s international success is its ability, which has remained intact over the years, to combine solid artisan tradition with a constant search for innovative solutions and a production known for its elegance, practicality, and style.
Aware of the fundamental importance of the quality of the materials used in production, “i santi” carefully selects and inspects the leather, and it chooses only the best leather from Tuscany. The famous handbag manufacturer “Diva”, founded by Amato Santi and Luigi Briganti, is also Tuscan and has been producing the “i santi” brand for over 40 years.



The origins

The company was founded in Milan in 1947 by Amato Santi, a young leather producer who in the difficult years during World War II decided to devote his life to a trade that he learned as a boy from a talented master craftsman.

In Milan, Amato established strong entrepreneurial roots. He helped strengthen the productive fabric of the city and promoted category institutions such as AIMPES, the Association of Italian Leather Goods Manufacturers.
In 1962, he and a small group of leather producers and friends created MIPEL – the International Leather Goods Show -- which has since become the world’s greatest showcase of leather goods.

• The company “Santi Amato”, a handbag and leather goods factory, is established in Milan.
• The first store is inaugurated on Corso Indipendenza, under the name “Valigeria Indipendenza di Santi Amato”.
• MIPEL is founded.
• The “Diva” handbag factory in Chiesina Uzzanese is inaugurated and is still the place where the collections of the “i santi” brand are produced.
• The first store in an airport is inaugurated in Milan Linate Airport, and is followed by Malpensa airport and the historical shop on Corso Lodi in Milan.
• Under the guidance of Amato, the “Ci.Pi.Elle, Consorzio Pellettieri Lombardi” consortium of leather goods manufacturers is founded to promote the sale of Italian handbags and leather accessories abroad.
• After Amato’s three children join the company, the brand “i santi” is born.
• “i santi” wins an award as Best Concept Product, assigned during the Fiera Tax Free World Exhibition in Cannes.
• The company celebrates 50 years of business.
• “i santi” returns to present its collections at MIPEL. Amato Santi is asked to cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony.
• New concept stores are inaugurated in the Palesi Airport in Bari and the Valerio Catullo Airport in Verona.

International success

The company’s past reveals something that is now a necessity for the international business system: internationalization. A very dynamic phase began in the seventies that paved the way to foreign markets, and the company began participating in trade fairs and business missions throughout Europe, Arab nations, the USA, Japan, and China. The production always promptly and creatively followed the rapid changes in fashion trends by diversifying lines and successfully focusing on a quality brand.
Under the skillful guidance of Massimo Santi, many stores were inaugurated in the USA in just a few years: Chicago (1978), New York (1979), Orlando, Florida and Houston (1980), and Westport (1981).

Today our stores can be found in the main airports of Italy and in the airports in the Portuguese cities of Lisbon, Faro, Porto, Cascaise, and the Azores.


Distribution: airports

“i santi” has been present in the most important Italian and international airports since the seventies: this success was built upon the high level of satisfaction of its customers, who are only apparently distracted and in a hurry but are actually very focused and choosy.
The winning concept is the authentic Italianity of the “i santi” brand, which is a guarantee of accurate craftsmanship and high quality materials. Other rewarding factors are the wide range of products in the collections and the practical packaging that is custom designed for travelers.


The Historical Collection

“Leather in life” is the title of this unique collection that tells a story of one of the oldest trades: leather-making.
It contains nearly 1,000 items from the 18th century to the current day (handbags, purses, travel items, small leather goods, toiletry items, etc.) collected by Amato in over 40 years of browsing through flea markets around the world. This collection has been admired over the year by journalists, designers, and students. An integral part of the collection is the printed documentation with rare fashion magazines from the 1930s and photography catalogues.
Declared a collection “of extreme historical interest” by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage in 1994, it illustrates the evolution in customs, fashion, and the Italian leather goods industry.

The Future

The company has grown over the years, and many things have changed. Production is faster, more modern, and functional. Shops have become genuine concept stores that capture the attention of the buyers with display itineraries and create a unique shopping experience. Styles are updated each year to remain in the vanguard of the market.

What has still remained intact from the very beginning is the “i santi” spirit, which always cares about product quality, unique style, and competitive prices. Guaranteeing the future of this successful tradition is the new generation of the great “i santi” family: Valentina Santi, the third generation working in the company.


For information and booking please contact 02 5416981 or info@isanti.it