La Bretagna — The Italian Tannery Named After France

August 30, 2026

Some names tell you a location.

This one tells you a supply chain.

Here is the story of Conceria La Bretagna — an iconic Tuscan tannery named after a region in France, and the craftsmen behind our Arizona leather straps.

1. Started With Just Two Drums

In 1961, a 21-year-old craftsman named Giovanni Testi opened a small tannery in Ponte a Egola, in the heart of Tuscany's leather district.

Starting with just two tanning drums and a single employee, Giovanni and his wife worked seven days a week to establish what would become one of Italy's most respected veg-tan tanneries.

2. Why the Name "La Bretagna"?

The tannery is proudly located in Tuscany, Italy — so why the French name?

From the beginning, Giovanni sourced the tannery's premium heavy raw hides from Brittany ("La Bretagne"), France, renowned for producing exceptionally clean, dense, and uniform cattle hides.

Instead of choosing a local Italian namesake, the founders named the business directly after the origin of their finest raw materials.

3. A Family Legacy of Continuous Innovation

Giovanni eventually passed his lifetime of tanning knowledge to his two sons, Paolo and Simone, who joined the family enterprise after completing their studies.

While deeply rooted in tradition, the Testi family remains exceptionally innovative — developing around ten brand-new leather articles and finishes every year, an extraordinary level of experimentation for a classic tannery.

4. Consortium Certified Tuscan Origin

La Bretagna is a proud member of the Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale (Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium).

Every hide produced strictly adheres to historical production standards, verified by independent third-party audits to guarantee authentic vegetable tannage and environmental compliance.

5. What That Means on Your Wrist

Our HMS Arizona watch strap is crafted from one of La Bretagna's most celebrated and signature leather articles.

By pairing French raw hide density with Tuscan tanning mastery, Arizona leather offers rich color depth, outstanding grain character, and a supple feel that ages gracefully on the wrist.

HMS Tip 💡

Look for named tanneries and certified origins: Arizona by Conceria La Bretagna.

Combining French raw material excellence with Tuscan Consortium certification ensures a strap built for durability and rich patina.

At HMS, we name our tanneries because provenance matters.