I love Florence.
I love the art. I love the architecture. I love the city. I love the food.
I love everything about Florence.
One of the many things that Florence is famous for is being one of the very best places in the world to buy leather goods.
Everything from sensational handbags to luggage, belts, soft leather gloves, and fabulous leather jackets. Fabulous.
Just walking anywhere in Florence is pure magic, especially at night or in the early mornings before the tourists descend en masse.
Window shopping in this beautiful, art filled city is glorious. But if you’re not able to drop multiple thousands of dollars on the high end jackets and bags you see in the windows of Ferregamo, Gucci or Prada you are in luck – just make your way to San Lorenzo.
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| Looking around the San Lorenzo market in Florence |
Not even 5 minutes walk from the Duomo (Santa Maria Del Fiore) you will find yourself at the San Lorenzo market and Mercato Centrale one of the most famous outdoor market areas in all of Europe. Mercato Centrale is inside, and is a food market, but all around it are endless market stalls and shops selling gorgeous leather handbags, luggage and jackets.
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(If you haven’t be to Florence in a couple of years, be prepared for a surprise. All the market stalls the used to be outside the Basilica di San Lorenzo are now gone, relegated to side streets.)
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| Jimmy’s beautiful leather shop in Florence |
There are so many vendors that it can get quite confusing, and it would be easy in the mad tourist shuffle to make an expensive mistake and purchase something sub-quality. So I advise all my friends to have fun looking through the market, but then go see my dear friend Jimmy.
I first met Jimmy years and years ago when I bought my beautiful leather travel bags (that have been featured many times in this blog and in magazines!). Over the years we have become great friends, and now Jimmy has his own shop in the Piazza San Lorenzo, named Jimmy’s Leather Collection.
Everyone in the market knows and loves Jimmy, which is really helpful! I always get completely lost in the market stalls and can’t find my way back, so there are always vendors who will walk me back to his shop, which is in the Piazza San Lorenzo at the very beginning of the market.
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| Jimmy’s second store is at the tail end of the market. Travel bag in the front is identical to mine! |
What sets Jimmy’s shop apart from the rest is his attention to detail, and the quality of his merchandise. There is a giant area T the back end of the shop where you can sit comfortably on couches, look at clothes and bags in peace where you can really think and make wise decisions, to try jackets on and look at them in huge mirrors so you can see what they really look like, and to go over every inch of your jacket, it’s stitching, it’s form, and see the absolute perfection in the garment.
Jimmy does buy some garments from other manufacturers, but he also designs his own line of sensational leather jackets.
And they are beautiful.
Stylish, modern, and also classic.
The leathers that Jimmy uses are exquisitely soft and totally luxe.
Part of what makes shopping there so much fun is his depth of knowledge about leather, about the hide your jacket came from, about every step in the process.
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He has an encyclopedic knowledge of fashion and of specific moments in fashion. I can be talking to him about a cuff style I like and he will say “Yes that was in the Fendi jacket in 2013” or he will say “Do you remember the sleeve on Balmain’s jacket in 2012? That shape would look perfect on you”. When you talk about that very specific shade of beige that Chanel had 5 years ago or last season, he knows exactly what you are talking about.
I can’t get enough of it!
Jimmy really understands body shape and how to choose the perfect style to maximize your assets and not draw attention to your not so great bits. He also understands geographic idiosyncrasies.
He will show me styles that girls from Chicago and L.A love, and then he will show me what girls from NYC are drawn to.
I love that he gets it.
Jimmy’s attention to detail is worth noting too. He sees the perfect alignment in the hides he uses, how the seams match perfectly.
I’ve sent people from all over the globe to Jimmy, normally because they want to buy luggage like mine, but they tend to end up buying leather jackets. And every single time, every single person is just ecstatic about their experience and their beautiful new leather jacket.
Of course he also has beautiful handbags and travel bags. But everyone lately has been asking me about jackets.
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Another thing to love? Jimmy is charming and charismatic and fun. You will have a wonderful time shopping with him, no matter where you are from. He speaks something like 21 languages, so it doesn’t matter who you are, he just changes over to your language and chats away, always happy, always delightful.
Find Jimmy’s Leather Collection on Facebook here
Jimmy’s Leather Collection
Piazza San Lorenzo, 2
N233
Tel: 0055-292137
So let's start this adventure right now with leather jackets thanks for sharing with us great information about this lovely topic. Leathers jackets
Markjonan4 thank you! Make sure you go see Jimmy when in Florence – he tells me when Corinna Bs World readers visit him. Enjoy! ?
Hi Corinna!
Great info! My husband and I are going to Italy for the first time this August, and I know the crowds will be crazy so we are trying to plan everything and book tours and such ahead of time. Just curious if you happen to know if Jimmy's is open on Sundays? We are so excited to buy leather goods while in Florence 🙂
Thank you!!
Hi Leigh,
That's fantastic! You will love it! I am here right now touring some ladies, and I just took them to Jimmys. They bought some fabulous jackets and bags!
His store is open 7 days and probably will have extended hours in August. Ask for him when you go in there, and tell him you read about it here. He gets such a kick out of it! (and maybe you can get a discount? It's always worth a shot!)
Have a blast in Florence!
xo
Thank you so much! I appreciate the info 🙂
Made it to Jimmys today and it was fantastic. We told them we heard about it from your blog and they took great care of us! My husband and I both ended up with jackets we love!
That's so exciting! Aren't they lovely there?? I'm thrilled you got jackets. I desperately wanted to get one when I was there in June.
I hope you are having a fabulous time in Italy!!
xo
That's so exciting! Aren't they lovely there?? I'm thrilled you got jackets. I desperately wanted to get one when I was there in June.
I hope you are having a fabulous time in Italy!!
xo
Hi Corinna!
I will be visiting Florence in three weeks and have planned on stopping by Jimmy's on my trip. I'm having a difficult time though finding any information online about his price ranges. Are you able to offer any advice? Are we looking at $200/jacket or $1200/jacket?
Just trying to figure out what I should allot for a jacket purchase.
Thanks so very much!
Rachel
Hi Rachell,
I was just at Jimmy's 2 days ago! One of my friends bought a jacket for $150 and there were other jackets for $900 and everything in between. He has amazing stock in at the moment, especially the jackets from his own line. Lots of beautiful colors as well as black jackets.
Ask for him when you go in there, and tell him you read the blog. He gets a huge kick out of it!
Don't forget to message me after and tell me what you bought!
Fantastic! Thank you so much!
Hi Corrine
Do you know if the size range include woman plus ?
Thanks,
Cathy
Author
Hi Cathy, yes Jimmy has all kind of sizes. He also has styles for every body shape imaginable, so you can always find something that looks stunning on you. (He normally guides me out of what I think I want and into something more flattering :))
Hi, do you happen to have the address to this shop? Thanks a lot!
Author
Hi, yes the address is Piazza San Lorenzo 2. It is at the front end of the market, by the church. Everyone in the market knows Jimmy, so if you can’t find his store someone will walk you over there.
The phone number is +39 348-414 2079
Make sure you let me know if you go see him! I love hearing from readers who have been there. I will be there in June :))
How much are the travel bags like yours?
Thank you for all of the great information!
Author
Hi! I bought mine years ago but I still see the same style at Jimmy’s. I don’t remember the price but I know the larger wheeled duffel with the zippered shoe section is under $100. If you go to his store ask to speak to him (he is a really lovely guy) and tell him you read about him on this blog. He gets so many of my blog readers coming into his shop that he gives everyone a discount!
Back in November I bought the two tone black and cream coat as shown. I get so many compliments so I thank you for this post. Jimmy and his co workers were terrific. Good leather does not smell
Author
Karen that makes me so happy! Aren’t they all just wonderful there? Even when I’m not buying anything I always drop by for a coffee. I’m so glad you went to see them!
xo
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Hi Corinna
I’ve just stumbled across your blog and love it. We are heading back to Florence again later this year and am curious to visit Jimmy’s store. From his website I can’t tell whether he sells handbags and shoes? If not, have you any other suggestions where I should go?
Thanks heaps
Author
Hi!
I’m excited that you are going back to Florence!
Jimmy has handbags but can also help you with other bags available in San Lorenzo. Also he hooked us up last year with a friend of his who makes exquisite leather shoes. The store owner has the regular shop then around the corner he has a little outlet shop for his shoes as well. If you ask Jimmy he will give you the details and tell you how to walk over there.
I took one of my little tour groups there last summer and they went crazy over these beautiful handmade leather shoes! I will be in Florence in a few weeks and am hoping to get some for myself too!
Let me know when you are back in Florence in case there is anything or anyone else that I can hook you up with!
Thank you so much you are an absolute sweetheart !
Hi Corrina,
Was just looking to find ideas about getting leather goods from Florence! We are leaving to go in 2 days!! So excited to be going there. We will be going to the San Lorenzo Market for sure now! Thank you so much for the tips. My son in law requested a travel bag and the one that is in the picture that is just like yours is perfect!!!!! Can’t wait to tell Jimmy about your blog!
Author
How exciting!! Please do tell Jimmy you read the blog – he loves meeting my readers! Everyone who works there is wonderful and they are super helpful and full of ideas for other cool things to do in Florence too.
Do you have my new book? You can download it to the Kindle App so that you have access to it on your phone. There are multiple chapters in there with really fantastic advice on everything from which foods and wines to order in each city/part of the country, how to use the trains, how to order coffee, tips for shopping, money, avoiding pickpockets – lots of really useful things to have at your fingertips on your phone. You can see it in the My Book tab at the top of each blog post.
Let me know how your trip goes! If you post any pictures on Instagram tag me @corinnatravels so I can see!
xoxo
Leather is very expensive things, but most of the sellers fake leather sale. I am searching on google genuine leather and I get your blog. Your blog very helpful information provides on this blog. I am happy with your blog. Thanks for sharing great information.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for my best friend and her “husband“ for taking me to Jimmy’s to buy a leather jacket. I would’ve easily paid three or $4000 here in Houston. And still never found the jacket that I was truly looking for. As you know Texas gets very hot. This jacket is as thin and comfortable that I can wear during the spring and fall. The softness of the skin is something I’ve never felt before. I can’t wait to go back to Florence and visit Jimmy’s again and get another jacket of the same style. The work really is exquisite. Thank you so much Dr. D. M.
Author
Isn’t Jimmy’s just fantastic?? I am thrilled you were able to find your perfect jacket. You will find that every year your jacket from Jimmy’s gets softer and more beautiful. I absolutely love mine!
Currently in Italy and would like to go to a shoe shop to purchase some boots. Where/who do u recommend?