Be A Designer, Gallarate. Bags and small leather goods.
Well-made bags, for your brand.
Bags and small leather goods made from genuine or synthetic leather, based on an existing design or your own. First we select the materials and trimmings, then the prototype is made in the leather workshop near Como, followed by production.
12 years part of the ‘Made in Italy’ supply chainOver 200 people supporting them as they launch their brandTrustpilot 4.2/5, all the 5-star reviews
In brief.
Be A Designer is an agency based in Gallarate (Varese) which, for the past 12 years, has been supporting emerging designers and brands in the creation and ‘Made in Italy’ production of bags and small leather goods, made from either genuine or synthetic leather. Prototypes and production take place in a leather goods workshop near Como, as part of a short supply chain of workshops located within 30 km of Gallarate. The indicative minimum order is 30 pieces per model, or 10–30 pieces per model and colour. It takes an average of 4–6 months from concept to finished product.
Service details Bags and leather goods
- Who
- Be A Designer, Gallarate (VA)
- What
- Bags and small leather goods, made of leather or imitation leather
- Where
- Leather goods workshop near Como, supply chain within 30 km
- Minimums
- 30 pieces per design, or 10–30 per design and colour
- Times
- 4–6 months from concept to finished product
- For those who
- Emerging designers and brands; pure contract manufacturing for self-employed individuals and established companies
Leather, synthetic materials, small leather goods.
A handbag is not just a piece of clothing: what matters is its structure, the quality of the handles and fastenings, and the precision of the details. That is why every design is crafted in a leather workshop in the Como and Varese area, renowned for its high-end leather goods.
Leather bags
Calfskin, cowhide, nubuck, leather, vegetable-tanned or chemical-tanned. Leathers that improve with age, for the mid-to-high-end market.
Faux leather and fabric
Polyurethane and faux leather for vegan ranges; nylon and canvas for casual or sports ranges; recycled leather for a sustainable approach.
Small leather goods
Accessories that match the collection, featuring the same design details as the bags. The price varies depending on whether the material is leather or faux leather.
From an existing design or one of your own.
These are two different approaches in terms of budget, timeframe and flexibility. We’ll explain them to you during our first call and choose the right one for your first capsule collection together.
Existing model
The most flexible approach: start with a tried-and-tested design and customise it with leathers, colours, trims and your brand’s labels. Ideal for testing the market.
New model
Designs, technical specifications, pattern and prototype based on your design. The development of a unique handbag model typically costs €350–650, a one-off fee.
In both cases, before the prototype is produced, we carry out research into leathers, finishes and small fittings. We never approve a prototype without having chosen the materials from which it will be made: so the price you see is the price you’ll pay.
A supply chain spanning 30 km.
We work with workshops within a short supply chain, within 30 km of Gallarate, and for leather goods with a workshop near Como. We do not move production to the other side of the world: this means greater control over quality, less transport and more predictable lead times.
Be A Designer doesn’t just handle production. We only undertake pure contract manufacturing for VAT-registered individuals and established companies. Those starting from scratch go through the full programme: it’s the safest way to avoid spending money on production before knowing what to sell, to whom and at what price.
Prototypes and production go hand in hand: let’s head to the lab – we don’t send emails.
From idea to product, in six stages.
The complete Be A Designer programme. If you already have a collection and suppliers, we’ll start with the stage that suits your needs.
Strategy
Who is the brand aimed at, who are its competitors, and at what price does it remain viable?.
Collection
A carefully curated selection, not an endless catalogue.
Materials
Fabrics, leathers, trims, small fittings and buttons selected before the prototype is made.
Prototype
The design takes shape: it is tested, revised and approved.
Production
From a short supply chain within 30 km of Gallarate, with quality control.
Launch
Content, e-commerce and distribution: a brand only sells when people know it exists.
Why ‘Be A Designer’ and not just any manufacturer?.
| Generic manufacturer | Be A Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | He’s asking you for a ready-made technical data sheet. | Let’s start with your idea and work with you to develop the collection and technical specifications. |
| Materials | You make a prototype with whatever you’ve got. | Research into leathers, finishes and small components before the prototype: no surprises when it comes to cost. |
| Supply chain | Often far away; sometimes you don’t know where. | Workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, leather goods near Como. |
| Quantity | High minimum stock levels, full warehouse. | Carefully selected packs of 30 capsules per model to test the market. |
| After production | Just pick up the bags; the rest is up to you. | Content, e-commerce and launch: the same team supports you right through to the sale. |
How much does it cost to produce a handbag in Italy?.
The average production cost of a ‘Made in Italy’ handbag, produced in limited quantities using high-quality materials, is around €100–150 per item. These are rough estimates: the exact quote is provided once the materials and trimmings have been selected.
| Entry | Approximate cost | What does it depend on? |
|---|---|---|
| Model development | €350–650 | A one-off payment for a new model; when starting with an existing model, the cost is reduced |
| Leather made in Italy | from around €30 per hide | Type of leather and tanning method; it is sold as whole hides, not by the square metre |
| Digital printing on fabric | around €10 per metre | Print details and quantity |
| Accessories and labels | €5–20 | Zips, buckles, buttons, hardware and selected labels |
| Assembly | €30–50 each | Model complexity and quantity |
| Small leather goods | subject to a quotation | The same minimum prices as on the stock exchanges; the difference lies between genuine leather and synthetic leather |
| Average cost per bag | €100–150 | Limited quantities, good-quality materials |
For an initial collection of 5–8 designs, you should expect to invest between €8,000 and €15,000 on samples and the first production run. In the premium sector, the retail price is generally 2.5–3 times the production cost.
Questions we’re often asked.
With Be A Designer, the recommended minimum order is 30 pieces per design, or 10–30 pieces per design and colour. The exact number depends on the material, the manufacturing processes involved, and whether the design is based on an existing model or is a new one.
Yes, Be A Designer also produces small leather goods with the same minimum order quantities as for bags. The cost depends mainly on the material, as leather and synthetic leather have different prices and require different manufacturing processes.
Be A Designer carries out prototyping and production in a leather goods workshop near Como, as part of a short supply chain comprising workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. Keeping the supply chain local means greater control over quality and less transport.
The average production cost of a ‘Made in Italy’ handbag produced in limited quantities is around 100–150 euros per item. The main cost components are pattern development (a one-off fee of 350–650 euros), leather (from around 30 euros per hide), fittings and labels (5–20 euros) and assembly (30–50 euros per piece). Be A Designer will provide an exact quote once the materials and small parts have been selected.
Yes, with Be A Designer you can start with an existing design – which is the most flexible option – or create a new one. In the first case, you can customise the leathers, colours, trims and labels; in the second, you develop the design, technical specifications and prototype from scratch.
On average, it takes 2–4 weeks for design and material research, 3–5 weeks for prototypes and revisions, 2–3 weeks for final sampling and 6–10 weeks for the first batch. With Be A Designer, it takes around 4–6 months from concept to finished product.
Be A Designer offers a pure contract manufacturing service exclusively to VAT-registered individuals and established companies. Those starting from scratch embark on the full process: strategy, collection, research into materials and small components, prototyping, production and launch. This is the way to avoid spending money on production before you have clarified what to sell, to whom and at what price.
Yes, most of the people Be A Designer works with come to us with nothing more than an idea. In such cases, we start with the strategy and the collection, putting together a carefully considered capsule collection of 5–8 designs, and only then do we move on to prototyping and production.
Let’s talk about your first collection of bags.
A free consultation to help you decide whether to start with an existing model or a new one, and to discuss the timeframe and budget involved. No obligation.
Or write to [email protected]
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