Glove manufacturing in Naples is deeply-rooted: in fact, Neapolitans were deemed as Europe’s best glovemakers already at the time of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Handmade with fine quality leather only, they were beautifully and skilfully crafted. After France, they started manufacturing this very old yet sought-after object in Naples during the 17th century, actually in a little street behind Via Medina, Via Guantai Nuovi (New Gloves).
Later on, the densely populated Sanità district buzzed with workshops, so much so that there were approximately 25,000 small producers. Since then, Neapolitan artisans have specialized in leather glove manufacturing and succeeded in handing down this art from generation to generation, offering a refined and one-of-a-kind product.
Quoteout: in the city’s place names you can find not only Via dei Guantai Nuovi but also Via dei Guantai ad Orsolone and Via dei Guantai a Nazareth, which prove that in the past the artisans’ shops producing leather gloves blossomed in many areas of the town.