Made by hand = made with love

In a world where most things we buy have been mass produced in a factory, there’s a lot to be said for the personal touch. Products that have been made by hand hark back to an era where craftsmanship, pride and quality came as standard. These days, such values seem to be becoming rarer, but thankfully, there are some artisans who hold such traditions in high regard. And Tuscany has more than its fair share of them, with paper merchants, potters, carpenters, jewellers and many more, all working by hand.

Tuscany has a long legacy as being home to some of the world’s finest leather, with a process that’s meticulously followed to create soft, fragrant leather by hand. As a result, there have always been visionaries in the fashion industry working close to where the leather comes from. Shoes, handbags, saddles, if it can be made from leather, there will be a skilled tradesperson in Tuscany ready to work their magic, and when something is made by hand, it is truly one of a kind.

And proudly joining the illustrious list of respected Tuscan artisans who still make fine products by hand is Sigaro Toscano. You can tell there’s something different about their cigars the moment you touch them. Every one is different, whether in shape or texture. While mass produced cigars are usually smooth and uniform in design, those of Sigaro Toscano have an uneven rough texture, a testament to the process that created them.
From the drying of the leaves to the rolling of the cigars themselves, every stage is meticulously managed by highly experienced crafts folk, many of whom have been taught their skills by their parents, keeping the tradition alive over 200 years. With such attention to detail, it’s no wonder that celebrities like Clint Eastwood only smoke Toscano cigars.

Whatever the product, if it’s made by hand, it’s made with love, and that’s a luxury we should all make time for.