The Art of Leather
Characterised by impeccable quality, artisan craftsmanship and attention to detail, the Tissa Fontaneda collection consists of exquisitely designed handbags, necklaces, belts and cuffs – recognizable by their standard of excellence, not by their logos. Classic and timeless, the unique “bubble” handbag is one you will fall in love with over and over again.
“To those who enjoy it the world belongs”
Giacomo Leopardi
Tissa Fontaneda
TISSA FONTANEDA
Born in Munich, Germany, in 1965, Tissa Fontaneda spent the majority of her life abroad. After graduating from the University of Turin, Italy, with a P.H.D in Literature and Philosophy, she then moved to Paris to pursue her teenage dream of working in fashion. It was at Daniel Swarovski that Tissa began her career as a design assistant to Rosemarie Le Gallais and Hervé Leger. Tissa relocated to Madrid five years later and then joined the Spanish luxury brand Loewe to develop the Thierry Mugler handbag collections.
At Loewe, Tissa learned about leathers and handbag manufacturing from some of the world’s greatest European artisans. When Loewe was acquired by the LVMH group, Tissa was invited by the president Yves Carcelle to be the Head of Production for Loewe accessories under Narciso Rodriguez. In addition to Loewe, she also worked with several other brands including Cartier, Dunhill, Connolly and Louis Vuitton.
Driven by a strong desire to merge her creative vision with her expertise in the world of luxury accessories, Tissa launched her eponymous label – “classic luxury with a modern twist” – in 2010.
Today, Tissa Fontaneda is one of the most distinctive and intriguing luxury handbag brands in today’s marketplace. Tissa’s inspired designs have achieved widespread recognition in high-end boutiques throughout the world. From Spanish royalty to socialites to politicians, Tissa Fontaneda continues to captivate ”fashionistas” and luxury connoisseurs worldwide.
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
Tissa Fontaneda handbags and accessories are handcrafted in Spain by the best Spanish artisans using the finest materials, specifically the soft Spanish Nappa and complementary items coming from Rwanda, The Philippines and Ecuador.
The leather is tanned in the north of Spain by a family highly positioned within the leather fashion industry in Europe, Asia and the United States. For more than 80 years, this family has maintained the highest standards of quality for their products by blending artisan skill and authenticity with innovative and modern processes, as well as employing strict selection of leather in origin.
The leather used by Tissa Fontaneda is sourced from the world’s finest ‘Entrefino’ lambskin. These animals are bred principally for sustenance, rather than uniquely for their skin, and reared in accordance with specific animals welfare protocols and rights considerations.
The “bubble” effect is the signature of all Tissa Fontaneda products, and has become synonymous with her name. Achieved through a very particular technique of steaming and contraction, the “bubble” effect is the outcome of an extremely complex artisanal process that can take up to ten hours. Each individual skin reacts in a different way – colour differences and imperfections are, therefore, a natural consequence of the production process. These small imperfections are part of the charm of these luxury products, and reflect the unique story of artistry behind each item.
All Tissa Fontaneda handbags and accessories are made in Madrid and Ubrique – a small town located in the south of Spain, known worldwide for its flourishing leather industry. Other international luxury brands have also produced parts of their collections here. Ubrique is known as the “Silicon Valley of craftsmanship”.
Tissa has a fruitful relationship with the manufacturers she works with, most of whom have been manufacturing her bags since the brand was born in 2010. These manufacturers have developed and improved their techniques to a point of near perfection, reflecting in the nobility and exquisiteness of the leather in all of Tissa’s products.
These skilled artisans are the foundation for success as they are the ones responsible for bringing Tissa Fontaneda products to life. Their satisfaction and proper working conditions, as well as the relationship between them and the main office in Madrid, are of crucial importance to Tissa. Thanks to the manufacturers and a dedicated team in the main office, the Tissa Fontaneda brand continues to grow each year, while continuing to perfect the products it produces, and taking on the new challenges of the fashion industry.
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Learn More
@tissafontaneda
tissafontaneda.com
With love,
FWO