Leathercraft Winklmayr- Where Work Becomes Friendship

Some relationships in life are shaped over time, quietly, without any grand plan. You meet, you cross paths, you work alongside one another, and somewhere along the way, something deeper takes root.

Ugo’s relationship with Hanspeter Winklmayr, or HP as everyone knows him, began many years ago, long before Gitana had a name. During our time at Lorenzi Handbags, Via La Moda, HP’s co-founded company was our direct competition in the world of exotic leather handbags. We operated in the same space, with the same materials, always aware of one another, always with mutual respect.

It wasn’t until much later, on a trip to China with a group of South African companies, that Ugo and HP had the chance to really talk. Away from factories and deadlines, they got to know each other as people. Values surfaced. Ways of thinking aligned. The beginning of an understanding formed.

Years passed. When HP decided to start Leathercraft Winklmayr, he began creating his designs at our Lorenzi factory. What followed felt natural and unforced. A working relationship grew into a friendship, built on trust, shared standards, and a deep respect for craft.

When Lorenzi was eventually sold and we made the decision to launch Gitana, the question of where to produce our handbags felt less like a search and more like a return. We needed a place where design, order, and ethics mattered. We needed a space where things were done properly.

So we approached HP.

He said yes without hesitation.

At Leathercraft Winklmayr, Ugo has found more than a production facility. He has found a place where his designs can be explored and refined, where structure and creativity coexist. HP’s Austrian roots show in the way things are run — orderly, precise, transparent — but always with openness and generosity. Over the past year, he has become a mentor to Ugo, sharing his knowledge freely and with great care.

And then there is Traude. Vibrant, strong, and impossible not to love. A presence in her own right, and very much part of the spirit of Winklmayr.

We are deeply grateful to HP for offering not only his facilities and expertise to Gitana, but his friendship. What has grown between us is more than a collaboration. It is a shared journey, and one we value deeply.