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Full of passion and creativity, it only takes a few minutes before Napoli-born designer Carla Romanelli has you wishing you owned her bags even if you don't like bags.
At first I thought I was meeting a young woman who runs a family-owned Italian company by pushing paper, filling out orders and trying to market her product.
But it's more than that the passion is real and so is the obvious love for her 30-year-old brand.
Having never taken her bags out of Napoli, Carla has now decided to take a brave move and see whether the Middle East agrees with the rest of Italy that her bags are priceless.
Family line
But it's not just the Romanelli brand which is branching out, Marzullo Ties — a small, Napolitan business which has been making ties for Gucci, Ermenegildo Zegna, Dunhill, Harmont and Blane, to mention just a few, is also bringing the family line of their business to Dubai, along with Marino, a family-run suit business.
Carla said: "I am quite nervous about stepping into another market but I feel that it's time for people across the world to experience what Napoli has to offer.
"The way things are done here is different. Everything is hand-stitched and the quality cannot be rivalled, in my opinion, anywhere in the world.
"My bags are about passion and it's a passion which comes from Italy — in my heart."
Gianluca Marzullo, 24, helps a client select a silk tie to match a new work shirt, as he explains the history behind his family business.
He said: "The inspiration for this business is larger thanks to my mother, Liliana and my uncle Romino. They wanted to start a quality, handmade tie and neckerchief line and it grew in success over the years.
'Perfect'
"Each one is perfect and we are so proud of what we have created. Hopefully Dubai will feel the same.
"I have never been to Dubai but I've heard lots about it."
Marzullo Ties is run by three brothers and the small factory is run by just 50 workers.
"In many ways our ties are all over the world but they boast a well-known name. So now we have decided to take the true Marzullo brand abroad to see what people think. We know we are good at what we do and we're sure others know quality when they see it."
The Marzullo brand has made ties for a number of famous faces including Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Luigi Marino — suit-maker for more than 30 years — says he is keeping an open mind when it comes to Dubai.
He said: "We hear so many things about Dubai and the Middle East and I think it will be a real eye-opener to see it for myself. It's a market and fashion world that everyone is talking about and it seems to have such a draw for designers and retailers. But one thing will never change — we won't compromise who we are or what we do. This is a venture which will take true Napoli to Dubai. I never want to be 'just another suit-maker'. My history, heritage, skills and the traditions of my country depend on that."
But although the passion and need for that "good old-fashioned" Italian workmanship still exists today, will there come a day when it has to end?
Hand stitched
Carla said: "It is a real concern of many Italian companies. Handstitching bags is becoming a dying art form and it's worrying for people like me. I pride myself on the fact that every stitch of each product is performed by a talented needle worker. But young people today aren't encouraged to learn a skill like tailoring. It is becoming harder and harder to find those talented people now and this also limits the number of bags we can produce each month."
Many Napoli businesses have tried to introduce training programmes but even the successful few admit it is a battle to encourage young people to get on board and see the benefit.
But one thing is for sure, for now at least the quality of Napolitano products is alive and kicking for all the world to see — starting with Dubai.
The designers will be at the Motexha Spring trade show at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from March 31 to April 2.
For more information, visit www.motexhaonline.com
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