Tivoli Group, an Italian company and manufacturer of leather goods, has announced a growth strategy targeting the US market, in spite of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the weak state of the US dollar. The company is currently attending the leather industry fair Lineapelle New York, promoting a series of initiatives in collaboration with Piazza Italia aimed at strengthening relationships with luxury brands and designers interested in Made in Italy products and nearshoring production chains.
Despite the fact that Trump’s tariffs and trade environment have led to significant uncertainties and increased retail prices in the short term, the United States remains one of the key markets in Tivoli Group’s development plan. “Made in Italy” results in a competitive advantage and a valued differentiator for high-end products among international consumers. According to the company, they are able to guarantee quality and flexibility while meeting the growing demand for local, traceable, and sustainable production.
Tivoli Group was founded in 1981 as the production arm of a small leather goods distribution chain in Rome. Over the years, the company has grown and established itself in Florence’s leather district, the heart of the industry, where it has made a name for itself as a leading manufacturer of leather goods for various international fashion and luxury brands.
Despite concerns about the leather industry’s risks and volatility, especially in the US, the United States remains a key market for the future of Tivoli Group. “Even though it comes at a time of great uncertainty, our presence at Lineapelle New York is an opportunity we want to seize to maintain and strengthen our dialogue with the American market,” says CEO Stefano Giacomelli. We’ll continue to present our production model to potential partners: a balance of artisanal expertise, technological innovation, and a well-structured industrial organization.”
A recent study by a group of Master students from the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, in collaboration with MBA students from the City University of New York through the Baruch College in Business Administration, found “Made in Italy” continues to offer a “significant competitive edge” and is widely recognized by international consumers as a source of added value for high-end products, especially in the leather market where Italy sets the standard for luxury. Additionally, consumers are willing to pay more for a handbag labelled “Made in Italy,” acknowledging its “superior quality, supply chain reliability, and symbolic value.”
In 2024, the group continued to expand its customer portfolio and closed the year with a turnover of 30 million euros. Despite President Donald Trump’s best efforts to bring production and manufacturing back to the United States, Tivoli Group remains in a position as the preferred partner for American luxury and premium brands seeking alternatives to existing supply chains.
