For our last day, we went to Linea-Pelle to learn more about how leather was created. Linea-Pelle is similar to the Consortium because it serves as the main communication between designers or companies with tanneries by showing the tanneries’ various techniques and new innovations. They host the International Fair of Leather based on trends picked…

During our last few days in Italy, we had a guest presentation lecture at the Catholic University. Our presenter, Francesca, gave us a detailed presentation on both fast fashion and sustainability. During this presentation, I learned tons of valuable and important information that I would not have learned in my everyday education. I was specifically…

We dedicated our day to Bottega Velasca, today. Bottega Velasca was formed in 2013 when a young man at a consulting agency was working in Eastern Asia and needed a new pair of shoes. All of the shoes cost around 500 euros for a quality pair, and this young man decided to go for it…

On our way back to Milan today, we visited two companies; Sartoria Cavour Tailoring company and Mario Faroni Knitwear company. These two companies were vastly different but both extremely successful. The Sartoria Cavour Tailoring company specializes in men’s suit jackets and suits, whereas the Mario Faroni Knitwear company focuses on knitted goods in all markets….

After an exhilarating morning of exploring Verona’s hidden treasures, such as a castle on the edge of the P.TE Scaligero River, we went on a professional visit to l earn about Venetia’s Consortium. The Consortium was formed by five business owners, who are now the board of directors, in 2000 and acts as a consultant…

Venice is located on the far right of Italy, on a small island connected by a large bridge for trains and cars. Venice just beats Pittsburgh for the most number of bridges, with over 450 bridges connecting the various sections of land in the area, and approximately 200 natural canals. Because Venice is surroundes by…

After visiting the top of the Duomo in Florence today, we traveled by bus for three hours to the historic Verona for the next part of our trip. I was not familiar with Verona like I was with the other cities we have visited, so I was curious to see what the town had to…

We started our first full day in Florence with a tour of the Scuola del Cuoio. The Scuola del Cuoio, a Florentine Leather school, is located in the heart of Florence and has been operating since the 1930s. The family run became a leather school when the friars recruited the company to help teach the…

Upon arriving in Florence, Italy, we had a walking tour that ended in the Uffizi Gallery that held renowned art pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more. The breathtaking gallery of paintings and busts had various styles and time periods in which they were made. I was particularly impressed by the incredible detail…

Mantero Seta was an incredible experience and has allowed me to understand vertically integrated companies and the company itself so much more in depth beyond the research I had done about the company in the pre-trip presentation. As I have continued to mention as a common theme I have seen throughout my time at Italy,…

The Leonardo da Vinci museum was everything I could have hoped for and more. As an engineer, I appreciated Leonardo’s works and the complexity of what he was creating immensely. Being able to see Leonardo’s sheer brilliance while contemplating the challenges he faced were truly inspiring and incredible for me today. I loved Leonardo’s daring…

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II shopping mall and the side street shops that we had visited on our first full day of Italy were somewhat similar but also very different from one another. The Galleria shopping mall was very luxurious from the first moment we saw it. The Galleria had grand detailing in the walls,…

While arriving at the Malspensa airport after the 10 hour flight from Newark, NJ to Milan’s airport, an interesting observation happened very soon after we left the flight. When using the restroom, I saw two very well dressed women who were on the flight and applying makeup in front of the sink. Compared to the…

Ciao! My name is Stephanie Folkmire and I am a freshman engineering student at the Swanson School of Engineering and I plan on majoring in Chemical Engineering next fall. I’m from Monroeville, Pennsylvania (about 20 minutes outside of Pittsburgh!) and I will be going on the Plus3 Italy trip in May. When I was first…