Adriano Meneghetti: It All Began With The Belt
Adriano Meneghetti was born in Milan in 1986. In 2008, he graduated in Fashion Design from the Istituto Marangoni and three years later, he decided to realise his dream and establish his own brand based on the values he had always believed in.
As a sentimental person, Adriano has always been fascinated by the past. This was the starting point when he decided to start designing long-lasting products that will age gracefully. His goal was to create pieces that are fuelled with love and emotion and which are handmade in Italy by the best artisans and with the best raw materials.
He first started in fashion industry as a designer and creative director, working with technical sportswear, high-end women’s footwear and accessories for different brands. In 2011, when the world still was going through the profound economic crisis, Adriano said to himself: “If I can that a brand that survives through this crisis, it will always survive.”
Initially, he started to develop the Trotter collection, a model with two different kinds of fastenings: one with double rings and the other with a buckle and a wide color palette. Together with the Trotter he also created the Rugged collection, characterised by washed, aged and twisted leather with brass and silver buckles for belts that would improve their appearance over time.
Today, the collection have evolved into several categories: belts, bags, small leather goods and a bespoke/made-to-measure tailoring service for men and women. Everything adheres to the same philosophy and brand values Adriano laid out at the beginning: the highest quality materials combined with the traditional Italian craftsmanship.
“To be born in Italy is a great privilege for someone like me who loves the artisan craftsmanship and know-how of this country”, said Adriano.
His products are produced in high-quality leathers and textiles that are hand cut and hand sewn with meticulous precision, combining practicality and aesthetics. Each stage of the production process is closely monitored by the designer himself, from the research and purchase of raw materials (including external suppliers) to the fabrication of prototypes, planning and coordination of in-house and outsourced production.
Yet, it all began with the belt, paying a close attention to this often overlooked accessory that he believes can help alter or define a look. Adriano Meneghetti makes a range of belts, from sporty to elegant, together with more specialised pieces such as their capsule collection, Native, inspired by Native American tribes, while the Adriano Meneghetti bag collection is inspired by modern globetrotters. Thanks to the specialised know-how of their craftsmen, the brand is able to offer a collection of small leather goods, where each item is completely handmade using only the best raw materials.
The goal is to offer something truly unique to the customers. Every single detail has been carefully studied and each piece has a strong identity. All of their items are done entirely in leather or combine leather with washed/waxed canvas that has become one of their signature looks.
Recent collaborations include exclusive pieces for Japanese magazine Men’s Club, the Brian & Barry department store and an on-going collaboration with Monocle magazine in the UK, always creating sophisticated products, mixing tradition and innovation to reflect the designer’s personality.