The Bridge

The Bridge is an Italian premium leather-goods brand established in 1969 in Scandicci, in the metropolitan area of Florence. The company originally traded under the name Il Ponte Pelletteria and was founded by five Florentine leather craftsmen: Fiorenza Benvenuti, Fernando Biagioni, Roberto Boncinelli, Andrea Ferri and Arturo Senserini. Its identity is rooted in the leatherworking tradition of Tuscany, particularly the use of vegetable-tanned leather and artisanal production methods. The business adopted the name The Bridge in 1975. In 1987 it moved its manufacturing operations to the industrial district of Scandicci, an important Tuscan center for leather and fashion production. The relocation reinforced the brand's connection with local manufacturing expertise while providing a more industrial setting for its continued development. The Bridge occupies a premium position within the leather-accessories market. Its brand language emphasizes material quality, visible craftsmanship and the character that develops in traditionally treated leather. Rather than being defined by a single mass-market product, it represents a broader leather-goods offer associated with Tuscan production and understated Italian design. Detailed product-line information is not specified in the available reference material, but the brand is identified generally with premium leather goods and accessories. The brand expanded its public profile by appearing at Pitti Immagine Uomo in January 2015. In 2016, Piquadro S.p.A. acquired an 80% interest in Il Ponte Pelletteria S.r.l., the company behind The Bridge, for €3.175 million. The transaction was completed in December 2016 and brought the brand into the Piquadro Group. Piquadro later exercised an option for the remaining 20% in 2022, making it the company's sole owner. The Bridge remains an active Italian leather brand within Piquadro's portfolio. For the financial year ended 31 March 2025, it reported revenue of €35.1 million, representing year-on-year growth of 2.9%. That figure reflects the operating performance of the brand or its operating company as reported in the cited reference material; it should not be confused with a market valuation or stock-market figure.

The Bridge traces its origins to Il Ponte Pelletteria, a leather-goods company founded in 1969 in Scandicci by five Florentine craftsmen: Fiorenza Benvenuti, Fernando Biagioni, Roberto Boncinelli, Andrea Ferri and Arturo Senserini. The founders established the business within the traditional leatherworking economy of the Florence area, where specialist craftsmanship and locally rooted production were central to the development of premium leather accessories. In 1975, the company adopted the name The Bridge. The new name became the principal commercial identity for a brand whose products were associated with Italian leather craftsmanship and a premium, understated aesthetic. Its material positioning has particularly emphasized vegetable-tanned leather, a traditional treatment that gives leather a distinctive surface and allows it to develop visual character over time. The company moved its manufacturing operations to Scandicci's industrial district in 1987. Scandicci is one of Tuscany's best-known leather and fashion-production centers, and the move placed the business within a more developed industrial network while maintaining its geographic connection to Florentine craftsmanship. The Bridge's identity continued to combine artisanal methods with organized production rather than presenting itself solely as a mass-market accessories label. A notable public-facing milestone came in January 2015, when The Bridge debuted at Pitti Immagine Uomo. The appearance connected the brand with one of Italy's prominent fashion and menswear trade platforms and helped present its leather-goods proposition to a wider professional audience. The ownership structure changed substantially in 2016. Piquadro S.p.A. acquired an 80% stake in Il Ponte Pelletteria S.r.l., the company operating The Bridge, for €3.175 million. The transaction was completed in December 2016 and brought The Bridge into the Piquadro Group. This gave the brand access to the structure of an established Italian accessories group while preserving its distinct identity and heritage positioning. Piquadro subsequently exercised an option over the remaining 20% in 2022. As a result, Piquadro became the 100% owner of the company behind The Bridge. The acquisition completed the transition from an independently controlled leather-goods business to a wholly owned brand within the Piquadro portfolio. The Bridge is active today as a premium Italian leather-goods brand. Its core differentiation remains the combination of vegetable-tanned leather, Tuscan manufacturing heritage and an artisanal visual character. For the financial year ending 31 March 2025, the brand reported revenue of €35.1 million, up 2.9% year on year. The available reference material does not provide a fuller breakdown by product category, geography, store network or distribution channel, so those aspects are not expanded here.

• 2025

  Revenue reaches €35.1 million

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Revenue for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 rises 2.9% year on year.

• 2022

  Piquadro becomes sole owner

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Piquadro exercises its option over the remaining 20% of the operating company.

• 2016

  Piquadro acquires an 80% stake

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Piquadro acquires 80% of Il Ponte Pelletteria S.r.l. for €3.175 million; completion takes place in December.

• 2015

  Debut at Pitti Immagine Uomo

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The Bridge presents itself at Pitti Immagine Uomo for the first time.

• 1987

  Manufacturing moves to Scandicci's industrial district

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  The company's production operations relocate within Scandicci, reinforcing its connection with the Tuscan leather-manufacturing cluster.

• 1975

  The company adopts the The Bridge name

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Il Ponte Pelletteria begins using The Bridge as its principal brand name.

• 1969

  Il Ponte Pelletteria is founded in Scandicci

  [1]The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org

  Five Florentine leather craftsmen establish the company that would become The Bridge.

Premium Italian leather goods with an emphasis on vegetable-tanned leather, Tuscan craftsmanship, artisanal character and durable design.

• Premium leather goods

  The Bridge leather goods

  The Bridge's principal offer consists of premium leather goods associated with Italian design and Tuscan production. The brand is especially identified with vegetable-tanned leather, a traditional process that preserves a natural material character and can produce visible patina with use. The available reference material does not enumerate individual collections or product models, so this entry describes the category at brand level rather than assigning unverified names to specific lines.

• 2022

  Piquadro exercises its option for the remaining sharesM&A

  Background

  Piquadro already held 80% of Il Ponte Pelletteria S.r.l. following its 2016 acquisition.

  Action taken

  Piquadro acquired the remaining 20% and increased its ownership to 100%.

  Aftermath

  The Bridge became wholly owned within the Piquadro Group.

  Source

• 2016

  Piquadro acquires a controlling stake in The BridgeM&A

  Background

  The Bridge's operating company, Il Ponte Pelletteria S.r.l., had developed as an independent Tuscan leather-goods business and was being brought into the Piquadro Group.

  Action taken

  Piquadro S.p.A. acquired 80% of the company for €3.175 million, with completion recorded in December 2016.

  Aftermath

  The Bridge became part of the Piquadro Group while continuing as a distinct brand.

  Acquisition consideration. €3.175 million (2016 transaction, completed December 2016)

  Source

1. 1The Bridge (brand)en.wikipedia.org