Il Bisonte is an Italian leather goods brand founded in 1970 by Wanny Di Filippo in Florence. Di Filippo, a trained designer with a passion for traditional Tuscan leather-working, established the brand with a philosophy of creating bags and accessories from natural, vegetable-tanned cowhide leather that would develop a rich patina over years of use. The brand's name, meaning 'The Bison,' was inspired by a bison's head carved above the door of Di Filippo's first workshop near the Ponte Vecchio.
Il Bisonte is distinguished by its commitment to vegetable tanning, an ancient process that uses plant-derived tannins rather than synthetic chemicals to treat the leather. This method, practiced in the tanneries of Tuscany's Santa Croce district for centuries, produces leather that is initially pale and stiff but softens and deepens in colour with exposure to sunlight, oils, and handling. The brand embraces this transformation as a core element of its identity, positioning each product as a living material that tells the story of its owner's use.
The product range includes bags, backpacks, wallets, card holders, belts, travel accessories, and leather-covered notebooks and journals. Il Bisonte's designs are deliberately simple, favouring clean shapes, minimal hardware, and visible stitching that celebrates the quality of the leather itself. The brand's embossed bison logo is its only ornamentation. Construction methods emphasise durability, with reinforced stress points and hand-finished edges.
Wanny Di Filippo sold a majority stake to the Look Holdings group (a Japanese conglomerate) in 2019, though the brand continues to be designed and manufactured in Tuscany. Il Bisonte operates its own stores in Florence, Milan, Rome, and major international cities, with a particularly strong presence in Japan, where the brand has developed a dedicated following. The company positions itself as an accessible luxury alternative to the major Italian fashion houses, emphasising authenticity and artisanal heritage.