Name: Jennifer Tattanelli
Location: Florence, Italy
Product: Croc iPad cover

A Florentine with an American mother, designer Jennifer Tattanelli has a rich artistic background to draw on for her luxury leather clothing and accessories. Her father’s family has a leather goods business, her mother was a costume designer, and her maternal grandmother was the folk artist and folk art collector June Ewing. It’s no surprise then, that Tattanelli’s highly refined creations, including this ultra deluxe crocodile iPad case, mix sophistication and whimsy in a highly covetable way.

What inspired you to create the Croc iPad cover?
I’ve seen so many covers in the last few months that were extremely beautiful but not practical, so I’ve designed something that—as with many of my accessories—combines the two.

How was it made?
Using just the capable hands of our artisans, from the leather cutting to the stitching.

What was the big aha! you had while creating the Croc iPad cover?
My husband and kids took the first prototype and did not want to give it back to me!

Can you describe your creative process?
I love to start any creation by just looking at my customers and people in general. What they need, what they are looking for and what they might desire.

What do you love about what you do?
I’m proud of my work and my roots. I’m extremely particular and respect Florentine craftsmanship, which is unique in the world. I insist on handmade items being carefully cut, designed and executed by our Florentine artisans; on being painstakingly careful with detailed stitching; on using high quality materials; and a precise assembly final fit for the garments. I love creating new looks using refined high-quality materials for my clients.

How would you sum up your aesthetic/design philosophy?
Simple, practical, sophisticated.

What are you working on next?
I’m already working on my new collection of leather garments and accessories. I have a new line of totes that I named “Infinity” because there they have no stitches at all—the bags are just one long strip of leather hand woven together.