Garibaldo Gherardini founded his company in 1885, producing cases in Florentine leather and gradually expanding to manufacture leather accessories and bags to eventually become a leading local figure in the leather processing business. However, Gherardini is known as the creator of a special fabric called Softy, a material which is soft, silky and lightweight; it is perfect for travelling, and epitomizes style and femininity. This innovative material coupled with great individualizing features such as various color combinations, leather accents, an abundance of pockets and practical shapes, has given these bags a uniqueness all of their own.
Gherardini began to experiment with finding a solution to the drawbacks typical of leather for handbags and bags. Their first development was a product called GHE Cotton which guaranteed more resistance to yellowing and a reduced weight for the final product. The sole and constant element of decoration on the bags is the artistic “G” for Gherardini printed on this specially patented material, giving them unique Italian handbags with a signature.
In the 1970s the brand gained a large following with the launch of what has today become their iconic revelation, the Softy fabric. This innovative material was a lightweight, waterproof and durable combination of polyurethane and cotton that later was replaced with polyester and features the brand's logo - G. This fabric was conceived as a solution to the typical flaws found on the hides of leather and the fabric has been a trademark of the company ever since.
Combine this silky lightweight material with fabulous colors, flashy accents and state of the art designs and Gherardini was offering a truly unique and much appreciated line of designer handbags.