Pasotti Ombrelli 1956

Luxury Artisan Umbrellas, Handmade in Italy since 1956

Identity

Splendid umbrellas, for design and for fabric, for decorations and handles. Pieces of the author who bring the "Made in Italy" of this particular sector all over the world, just as the great Asian competition offers daily low quality articles at very low prices.

Despite the overall crisis, in the Mantuan countryside, in Castellucchio, there are those who continue to produce luxury umbrellas, entirely handmade, and to distribute them in every corner of the globe, with a brand that is about to turn 60: Pasotti.

Pasotti stands out for its creativity and continuous research in materials, all exclusively Italian: enamelled brass, Swarovski® crystals, precious wood handles, wonderful decorations.

"The company was founded in 1956 - explains Eva Giacomini - and was founded by my mother, Ernesta Pasotti, who as an employee of an umbrella factory in Milan, returned to her native country, opened the business in a country house and began producing beautiful umbrellas that he sold directly, sometimes even riding his scooter. Then as a small artisan, together with my father Vittorio, the company has grown up, with over one hundred employees. Today, industrial production no longer has space given global competition, so we have scaled down: we produce no more than 40,000 umbrellas a year, which we then supply directly to the best boutiques in 75 countries around the world. 93% of our turnover concerns foreign markets, mainly Europe, North America, Russia and China. In addition to the production of the Pasotti line, we boast private-label partnerships with the world's biggest fashion brands ".

And the foreign market is constantly expanding, thanks to the new generation, that is Nicola and Andrea Begotti who, by participating in the most important fashion weeks and investing heavily in the Web, have increased the brand's popularity.

The artisanal production of the umbrella is kept alive from generation to generation.

Pasotti - A Made in Italy Luxury Rain

Madonna used one of their clubs for a concert, Johnny Depp on the red carpet, American Horror story on set, Meryl Streep received an umbrella as a gift, Hilary Duff uses it In the USA. and they are so loved by the luxury Paris griffes. we are talking about Pasotti: the umbrellas (luxury) of grandmother Ernesta. Umbrellas, but also sticks, shoes, parasols and bijoux. All strictly made in Italy. All strictly handmade. And all strictly luxury.

Pasotti accessories are sought after by stars, fashion bloggers, Italian and Parisian luxury companies, exclusive houses, families and entertainers. Gold, silver, Swarovski, but also lace, embroidery, prints, colors, imagination and creativity: this is the world of Pasotti. Average price? Approximately 250 euros. The most expensive umbrella? There are also rumors of 2,500 euros parasols.

If you have a Pasotti umbrella, you will not snort looking out the window because of the rain. On the contrary, you would almost do a propitiatory dance to show off one on the street. Or that of the sun, to open one of their wonderful parasols and feel special in en plain air.

Or you could pretend to have bad leg to have the excuse of having to lean on one of their precious sticks. In short, any excuse is good to be able to carry a Pasotti accessory. What then, to be honest, we really need excuses to indulge in a little 'luxury?

From a small shop in the countryside to the star system: how is it possible? But let's go by order. We are just outside Mantua, in Castellucchio to be precise, in the 50s, and Ernesta Pasotti decides to set up his own business and make umbrellas.

We are in the homeland of Isabella d'Este, that is one of the most à la page noble of all time that made Mantua one of the most fashionable cities in Europe, making arts, taste and refinement flourish. Ernesta Pasotti, in 1956, returns from Milan, where he worked in an umbrella factory.

"Back to Castellucchio, in the Mantuan countryside and decided to start producing umbrellas behind the house in the chicken coop, bartering his creations with other objects of other craftsmen. And so begins the story of Pasotti umbrellas, today the largest umbrella factory in Europe that produces entirely all made in Italy ".

Nicola Begotti explains us, the third generation of a family in the company, that we interviewed and tells us that, in the seventies, the production of umbrellas went up to 3,000 pieces a day; then, with the Chinese competition, the company has resized and, taking over the second generation with mum Eva (Eva Giacomini, the daughter of Ernesta), the artisan spirit has continued to make the company fly.

Today, a Pasotti umbrella means a piece of pure craftsmanship: completely handmade and with impeccable quality and finish, with handles that are real jewels, made by many craftsmen. Beloved by fashion bloggers all over the world, from the east to the west of the globe, Pasotti creations are often re-interpreted with creativity by the fashion community.

In Pasotti today 13 employees work more the family, including the third generation, inaugurated by Nicola who participates in practically all the fairs of fashion and luxury around the world. Procaccia clients, is a bit 'a young ambassador of the beauty of the made in Italy of the world. He also gives an eye to his brother Andrea, who is 23 years old, and who has started taking the first steps in the company, taking care of sales through e-commerce.

But how difficult is it to make such an umbrella? "In reality, an umbrella can also be built in an hour", explains Nicola. "Then, of course, it depends on the client's needs. It can also happen that a customer wants a model seen on our site but decides to change its colors ". In short, a lot of "customer-made" creativity.

"Our umbrellas can be completely customized. Today our production is multifaceted and we have learned to intercept tastes and trends, also according to the nation. The Japanese, for example, prefer sizes a little smaller, while the Russians need stronger umbrellas and love the jewel handles ".

And not just the Russians, apparently. "We are having great success in China. Thanks to a commercial partnership, we are in the most important Chinese shopping centers with 16 single-brand stores. Our neighbors are, for example, Louis Vuitton and other luxury brands ", explains Nicola.

Luxury, tailor-made and foldable men's umbrellas; women's, flowered, animalier, classic, luxurious and folding umbrellas. Sticks, shoes, parasols and bijoux. If you are in Mantua, the Italian capital of culture for 2016, take advantage of the beauty of the city, and go and visit the showroom of Pasotti!