About Altari

We are a handbag brand on a mission to save the ancient art of leather mosaics from extinction.

Altari is the pioneer of cultural sustainability. The brand embodies the customs and traditions of founders Elvira and Alessio. Theirs is a story of connecting worlds and preserving cultures to deepen and redefine what it means to experience luxury.

Like its founders, Altari represents a confluence of east and west. Alessio has his roots near Naples, in Southern Italy, at the very core of Italy’s artisanal ‘savoir faire’. Elvira was brought up in Tatarstan, a haven for 'eastern' culture in the center of Russia and home to the art of leather mosaics - an ancient embroidery technique dating back over 1000 years and the focal point of each Altari handbag.

Only a few dozen artisans remain who have the skills to craft leather mosaics. These masters take days of handwork to complete the thousands of stitches that bind each piece. This degree of craftsmanship makes each mosaic a work of art, each handbag irreplicable and each collection limited in nature. 

Altari is taking concrete steps to preserve ancient craftsmanship, pledging at least 5% of annual revenue towards the development of a new generation of Tatar mosaic artisans. Our investments and support will be co-designed with artisans and their communities; this will include training, equipment and infrastructure.

In purchasing an Altari design you’re not simply buying another handbag. You’re acquiring a unique piece of art, our shared human cultural heritage, and preserving its existence for future generations to live and discover.