About The Brand

Born from a long standing friendship and a shared creative vision, ALEA Firenze was founded by Andrea Espinosa and Ludovica Valfre, two best-friends brought together by complementary worlds. Andrea, trained in handbag design and leather craftsmanship, and Ludovica, a gemologist specializing in precious and semi precious stones, united their expertise to create something spectacular.

Their intention was never to design a handbag defined solely by its aesthetic appeal. Instead, they envisioned an object of meaning. A piece infused with energy and intention. A bag conceived to move effortlessly through time and occasion, transcending seasons and trends, while allowing the woman who carries it to feel both empowered and entirely herself.

The brand was born in Florence, Italy, where the first designs for ALEA took shape. It was here that the founders began exploring the dialogue between structure and energy, leather and stone, form and meaning. Florence, with its deep artistic heritage and enduring relationship to craftsmanship, became the natural starting point and enduring source of inspiration for the brand. 

At the heart of ALEA Firenze lies a profound reverence for the Tuscan tradition of leather excellence. The brand works exclusively with exceptional leathers selected from the highest quality materials used in premium designer factories based in the Tuscan region. These leathers are upcycled not as a compromise, but as a deliberate and discerning choice. By working with existing materials of extraordinary caliber, ALEA minimizes waste while preserving the integrity, beauty, and longevity of each piece. 

The leather is shaped into clean, architectural silhouettes, defined by elongated sculptural forms that balance strength and fluidity. Each design is elevated by its most distinctive element, a handle carved from a single piece of natural quartz. Offered in clear rock crystal, rose quartz, or amethyst, each handle is individually shaped by hand, transforming every bag into a one-of-a-kind art piece.

Quartz is a semi-precious stone formed over hundreds of millions, sometimes billions, of years. No two stones are ever alike. Each carries its own natural inclusions, tonal variations, and internal formations shaped entirely by time and environment. Long associated with balance, clarity, and grounding, the natural energy of the stone becomes an intrinsic part of the design, mirroring the individuality of the woman who wears it.

Deeply connected to nature and its elements, Ludovica and Andrea believe in the quiet power of natural materials. Each piece is conceived not as an accessory, but as an object of intention, where craftsmanship, material, and meaning exist in harmony.

Produced in limited quantities, each handbag exists as a singular expression of time, material, and artistry. The result is a collectible object shaped by time and nature, guided by human touch, and destined for women who value rarity, authenticity, and enduring elegance.