With exposés revealing questionable supply chains and “Italian-made” goods traced far from Italy, the fashion industry is being forced to reckon with the gap between the luxury it promises and the reality behind the seams. Consumers, now demanding to know exactly who made the product and how, are looking into craftsmanship as the last true measure of value. This is why a brand like Demetria feels particularly resonant now. At Demetria, founded and creatively helmed by Mai Cojuangco, craftsmanship is both long-standing in technique and personal in creation. Each bag is designed and sketched by Cojuangco and shaped by the hands of artisans whose names she acknowledges with pride: Simona, Lety, Roberto, Michela, Gabriele. Their skill, built over decades, is visible in every cut and seam. In a world of faceless manufacturing, Demetria chooses to place the maker at the heart of the story, which unfolds in Florence, a place..
