We save ancient crafts from extinction

Altari is on a mission to save ancient craft and preserve our shared cultural heritage. 

We save ancient craft by incorporating the artistic value of these techniques into modern designs to create distinctive and aesthetically unique handbags.

The focal point of any Altari bag is its mosaic. This form of embroidery has existed for over 1500 years.

Through the centuries, it has represented a distinctive symbol of luxury for ancient Bulgar tribes, Ghengiz Khan and his Golden Horde and more recently the noblemen of imperial Russia.

Despite its deep-rooted history and cultural significance, the leather mosaic, and those who have the skill to create it are steadily disappearing. Several factors, including history, the shifting dynamics of labor from workshops to industry and limited exposure to global markets, have played a role in the decadence of this once vibrant form of art.

Only a few dozen artisans in the Russian region of Tatarstan possess this ability today, passed down from one generation to the next across 15 centuries. We are proud to work with them.

Inspired by ancient leathercraft, our design team has created products that seamlessly integrate the central Asian detailing that characterizes traditional leather mosaics to the minimalist and functional features of modern handbags. Altari handbags are like no other.

Designing modern, desirable products centered on this ancient technique provides the demand required to keep the masters of the mosaic active and lays a clear path for the future of this art. To support the survival of this unique craft, Altari has pledged to invest 5% of revenue to support the training and development of the new generation of leather mosaic artisans in Tatarstan, its century-old home. 

While the leather mosaic art and its survival are the very souls of Altari, our dream is to save all ancient crafts and techniques from extinction.

Altari is the pioneer of a new model that will define the role of our cultural heritage in the new millennium.