Producing Italian Leather Driving Gloves.

The Italian artisan process.

Driving gloves are an essential accessory for any motoring enthusiast. Not only do they provide an extra layer of protection from the elements, but they also offer increased grip and control of the steering wheel. However, not all driving gloves are created equal. To produce a pair of high-quality driving gloves, several important factors must be considered.

Driving Gloves Material Selection

The first step in producing a pair of driving gloves is selecting the appropriate materials. Leather is the most commonly used material for driving gloves due to its durability, flexibility, and grip. However, not all leather is created equal. The type of leather used can significantly affect the quality and performance of the gloves. For example, deerskin leather is known for its softness and pliability, making it an excellent choice for driving gloves. On the other hand, cowhide leather is more durable and can withstand more wear and tear, but it may not be as comfortable.

If you're looking for a luxurious and high-quality option for driving gloves, you might want to consider those made from Peccary leather. Peccary leather is a type of leather that comes from the South American Peccary, a wild animal. This leather is known for its softness, durability, and unique texture, making it a popular choice for high-end gloves.

Here are some of the benefits of driving gloves made from Peccary leather:

Softness: Peccary leather is one of the softest and most comfortable leathers available, making it an ideal material for driving gloves. The gloves will fit snugly and comfortably on your hands, without any unnecessary bulk or stiffness.
Durability: Despite its softness, Peccary leather is also extremely durable and resistant to wear and tear. This means that your driving gloves will last for a long time, even with frequent use.
Unique texture: Peccary leather has a unique texture that sets it apart from other types of leather. It has a distinct grain pattern and natural markings that give it a rustic and rugged look. This can add a touch of style and sophistication to your driving attire.

Design & Fit

The design and fit of driving gloves are critical to their performance. Gloves that are too loose or too tight can impede movement and decrease control of the steering wheel. Therefore, it is important to select the right size and shape for the individual's hand.

The design of the gloves can also affect their performance. Gloves that are too thick or bulky can decrease sensitivity and decrease control of the steering wheel. Therefore, a design that is both functional and stylish is important. For example, gloves with perforated leather can increase breathability and improve grip.

When it comes to driving gloves, there are several variations to consider, including full finger, fingerless, lined, and unlined gloves. Additionally, some gloves feature knuckle holes, which can provide increased ventilation and flexibility for the wearer. Here's a closer look at each type:

Full Finger Driving Gloves: These gloves cover the entire hand, including all fingers. They offer the most protection and warmth, making them a great choice for colder weather. Some full finger gloves may also feature knuckle holes, which can provide added ventilation and flexibility. See our full finger driving gloves collection >>
Fingerless Driving Gloves: Fingerless gloves leave the fingertips exposed while covering the rest of the hand. They offer less warmth and protection than full finger gloves, but they allow for greater dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Fingerless gloves may or may not feature knuckle holes, depending on the design.
Select this option in our custom made configurator >>
Lined Driving Gloves: Lined gloves have an extra layer of insulation inside the glove, providing additional warmth and comfort. They are a great choice for cold weather driving, or for those who have sensitive hands. Lined gloves may or may not feature knuckle holes, depending on the design. See our winter driving gloves collection >>
Unlined Driving Gloves: Unlined gloves do not have an additional layer of insulation, making them a better choice for warmer weather. They are also more breathable than lined gloves, making them more comfortable for long drives. Unlined gloves may or may not feature knuckle holes, depending on the design

Production Process

1. Once the materials and design have been selected, the production process can begin. The first step is to cut the leather into the appropriate shape and size for the gloves. Using only scissors and gauges, the swatches are cut. Various parts are obtained, including the flaps, thumbs and fingers. Due to the skins of peccary leather being quite small, and to maintain full control, this can only be done by hand. One can imagine it's a challenge to cut out an unscratched or undented part.

2. Then, we need to perforate the fingers of the driving gloves which is a technique used to create small, evenly spaced holes in the leather, which can add ventilation and a decorative touch to the gloves. By using a perforating tool, we tap the holes in with a hammer. This is a carefully done job.

3. After this, we make the well-known oval knuckle holes of the driving gloves, these are also manually punched out of the leather. After which, we double sew these, one time manually, one time with a machine. Needless to say, we repeat this step 10 times. Considering the small workspace, one can imagine this is not an easy task and only a real artisan makes it work.

4. The flap, in which the buttons will be mounted eventually, is made separately. As none of the leather parts are unfinished, we hem the flaps with leather for a perfect finish. Due to the small parts, it takes craftmanship to finish the flaps with for example a contrasting color. This also is applicable to the ends of our driving gloves on the wrist side, which are finished with piping. Piping is a decorative detail that adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to our pairs of driving gloves. Once the piping is done, it's getting attached to the upper top part of the driving gloves and palm part to have an excellent finish.

5. Next, the leather is sewn together using a sewing machine or by hand. This depends on the modern or classic design of our driving gloves. This process is crucial, as it affects the durability, comfort, and appearance of the gloves. It is important to use high-quality thread and stitching techniques to ensure that the gloves can withstand the rigors of driving and provide a comfortable fit. The sewing of the driving glove in case of being done by hand, takes a lot of time as all the holes are being punched manually, after which sewn by needle and thread together.

6. After the driving gloves are sewn, including the entire contour of the glove and where the thumb joins the glove, we polish and iron the pair of driving gloves for a proper presentation.

7. Finally, after a process of 3-4 hours, the driving gloves are finished with any additional features such as ventilation holes, padding, and the press button.

Quality control of our driving gloves

Quality control is an essential part of the production process for driving gloves. Each pair of gloves should be inspected to ensure that they meet the desired level of quality and functionality. This includes checking the fit, comfort, durability, and grip of the gloves.

Summarized

Even though being a small accessory, it takes a lot of work and craftsmanship during a four-hour process to produce each pair of driving gloves. From selecting the right leather, up to pressing the buttons, it is like watchmaking. The imperfections of our driving gloves are showing them to be handcrafted as none of our driving gloves are precisely the same, hence separating ours from mass production.