Our materials
Through the experience of shapes, colors, scents, and materials, we infuse creativity and possibilities into how people perceive the world.
Quality and Experimentation
At our atelier in Piacenza, tradition meets innovation. We use natural vegetable-tanned leather from certified Tuscan tanneries and nickel-free hardware made in Italy, ensuring uncompromising quality. Without a pre-established tradition for our product, we blend traditional elements with experimental ones. Hand-stitched details become a distinctive feature, both aesthetically and functionally. Customer feedback helps us continuously refine our products.
What is Vegetable Tanning?
Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest methods of treating animal hides, using natural tannins extracted from tree bark. This process transforms rawhide into finished leather without harsh chemicals, ensuring the leather remains non-toxic and safe for the environment and human health, including for those allergic to heavy metals.
Certifications
We use vegetable-tanned leather certified by the "Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale." The certification tag guarantees the origin and craftsmanship of the leather, providing traceability and protection against counterfeiting through a unique serial number and QR code.
The Consortium
The Quality Mark for vegetable-tanned leather in Tuscany certifies production according to rigorous technical standards while preserving local artisanal heritage. The hides come from animals raised for food, following practices that ensure animal welfare. We use traceable chemicals compliant with REACH regulations and natural tannins from circular supply chains committed to reforestation. Tanneries also use centralized water treatment facilities, and waste is repurposed in other industries to reduce environmental impact.
Care instructions
Every CASTIGO creation is crafted in our atelier near Milan using top-quality materials, carefully selected and traceable.
Vegetable-tanned leather is a breathable, "living" material that evolves over time, deepening in color and shine. Natural leather (undyed during tanning) has a natural blush hue that intensifies with exposure to light.
When not wearing your Castigo accessories, store them in the provided fabric bag, away from direct light and humidity, which could damage or deform them. Roll the accessory with the outer side (grain) facing out and the inner side against itself to preserve its shape and quality.
For cleaning, use a damp cloth, and if needed, a mild soap. Gently rub in circular motions without applying excessive pressure. Pat dry with a soft cloth and allow it to air dry away from light or heat sources. If wet, blot immediately with paper towels and let it dry naturally. To prevent deformation, place it under a light, even weight with a cotton cloth for protection. Avoid using sharp objects that could scratch the leather or damage the interior.
Leather colors, derived from the tanning process, may transfer onto lighter fabrics in the presence of sweat or moisture. Due to the natural tanning process, tones may vary between batches and evolve over time. To test any treatments, we provide a leather sample with each purchase. For any questions, feel free to contact us.
We use unique and high-quality materials, carefully selected from the surplus of Italian luxury companies. We prioritize natural fibers like viscose, cotton, linen, silk, and wool, but we also appreciate high-quality technical fabrics like neoprene polyester.
This approach limits the availability of pieces in the same fabric, but when a material runs out, we find another equally suitable for the model. For us, the variety of fabrics in a collection is a source of uniqueness, change, and surprise.
We believe in the importance of highlighting each fabric's characteristics. Labels typically indicate only the fiber's origin, but it’s the weave (the structure of the fabric) that gives each material its true appearance and character.
We believe every fabric has a soul and personality, just like people. Many of our creations come to life by listening to the fabric itself. Sometimes, we even enjoy matching a person’s character with a specific fabric.
Care & washing
Each product in our shop includes specific care instructions.
A first cold wash is always recommended, especially for natural fabrics like viscose and cotton. For tough stains, such as wine, it’s best to consult a professional cleaner.
We provide a fabric sample with each purchase, which can be used to test treatments before applying them directly to the garment.