Our Italian Factory

♦ BOLOGNA, ITALY

 

 

Designed in New York City and produced in Italy, GG Maull is a beautifully fierce accessories brand. It incorporates Art Deco detailing into Italian leather to create timeless, statement pieces. Marked by rebellious sophistication and whimsical flair, it’s a brand for powerful women who will never sit still and wait. Have you ever wondered where GG Maull handbags come from? Take a look behind how we found our factory and the team that helps make your favorite multifunctional designs come to life.

 

 

HOW WE FOUND OUR FACTORY

 

After our designer Gretchen Maull attended University in Milan at Istituto Marangoni, it was only natural to produce her handbag collection in Italy. After a year of driving throughout the country, with few leads, she found a small factory outside of Bergamo that was perfect for GG Maull. After months of negotiations they made a deal for production to start and everything was coming together. On her visit to see GG Maull’s first sales samples, the factory informed her that they had agreed to an exclusive relationship with Chanel. In shock and disbelief, she cried in the parking lot and wondered if it was possible for an upstart fashion designer with low minimus and no track record to find a skilled and reliable factory.

A few weeks later she was back in Italy at the mill that produces the GG Maull lining. Through a connection there, she was put in touch with an Italian agent that could assist her in finding a manufacturer. On her 5th trip back to tour factories, she found a beautiful factory in Emilia Romagna that produced handbags for Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton and Prada. A little out of our league. On her second visit to the factory, the owner delivered the bad news, he could not commit to our production. The factory owner sensing her dejection introduced her to his two sons who had just opened their own small factory. Since they were young and ambitious like herself, they hit it off. Maurizio, the charming younger brother, drove her to visit his smaller factory in Anzola D’Emillia.

 

 

OUR ITALIAN FAMILY

 

Maurizio began working with leather goods at the age of 14. He is a true Italian craftsman. We began working together in 2015 producing GG Maull’s debut collection. We have watched him work with top craftsman, seamstress and pattern makers from around the country, most of whom were working for his father. Many of these talented artisans have since come to work with Maurizio because of the admiration they have for him.

A team of 10 employees make our entire 500 handbag production order by hand. The factory runs like a family, his wife and two daughters come for lunch and after school to lend a hand. When you purchase a GG Maull handbag, you are not only supporting our small group of 4 in New York City but also Maurizio and his team. The love and care for family is put into each and every handbag by our Italian American squadra.