An elegant basket made in Italy. Introducing a special-order basket from CANDRIA TOMMASO, where leather and rattan come together beautifully.

CANDRIA TOMMASO (Candria Tommaso) basket bags, born in Italy, are different from the baskets you usually see—they carry a certain elegance while also conveying the warmth of handwork, making them curiously appealing bags. When people hear the term "basket bag," they often picture an item that casually dresses down an outfit in a good way, giving off a cozy, relaxed impression. So if you're someone who tends to choose outfits that let you comfortably step into a slightly upscale restaurant or boutique when heading out, you might feel that a casual basket bag doesn't get much use.

In that respect, CANDRIA TOMMASO baskets have a dignified beauty that makes them perfectly suitable as a substitute for a designer brand bag. Rattan and Italian leather are beautifully woven together, giving them an urbane, sophisticated look.This time, to make these CANDRIA TOMMASO baskets more accessible and even more enjoyable to use, we're introducing five items, including four special orders exclusive to ZUTTO.Let's start by taking a look at the brand CANDRIA TOMMASO.

The pinnacle of handcraft: elegant woven bags made in Italy

CANDRIA TOMMASO basket bags give an impression of being neat and handsome. The weave is beautifully even, and the combination of leather flaps with handles made from a different material creates a refined, dignified look. Handmade in Italy, CANDRIA TOMMASO basket bags are packed full of the region's own techniques and a passion for craftsmanship.

Using techniques rooted in the local region

CANDRIA TOMMASO was founded in 1974 in Moliano, in Italy's Marche region, as a manufacturer of rattan furniture. From 1990 onward, the company expanded its production to include woven bags and small leather goods, and thanks to its original designs, meticulous finishing, sturdy construction, and a beauty achievable only through handmade craftsmanship, it was even honored by the Marche region in 2012 as a "master of artistic leather goods."

Moliano is a small town of about 4,800 people, located close to the Adriatic Sea. It's an area that still retains many hilltop medieval towns, and below this fortress-like town spreads hill country where olive cultivation flourishes.Moliano is known, both within Italy and abroad, as a town of rattan weaving craftsmen—a reputation rooted in the fact that basket weaving has long been part of everyday life there, deeply connected to weaving techniques that have taken root since ancient times. Beyond rattan weaving, the area is also home to many traditional crafts such as leather goods and hats, with craftsmen of various specialties working together to create things.

The CANDRIA TOMMASO workshop is family-run, and it's the family members themselves who actually weave the basket bags. It seems some work, such as making the bag molds or weaving the handles, is sometimes entrusted to outside craftsmen, but quality is maintained by keeping production, for the most part, within the same community and within eyesight. There are even craftsmen dedicated solely to polishing the rattan bags. Various materials such as rattan and bamboo are used, incorporating the distinctive lines and curves that these materials create. This reflects a technique long rooted in Moliano—furniture-making that uses wooden molds for weaving—applied here to bag-making. It's surprising that both furniture and bags are made entirely by hand-weaving, but that's the kind of know-how you'd expect from a town known for its rattan weaving craftsmen.

How a beautiful basket bag comes to life

To weave a basket that is neat and free of distortion, the wooden mold—something like the lifeblood of the brand—is essential.

Each bag design has its own dedicated wooden mold, and rattan, reed, and leather are woven along the shape of the mold.This makes it possible to achieve beautifully clean curves, and ensures that each finished piece comes out uniform and beautiful. Unless the weaving is done with a consistent amount of tension, the shape won't come out right, and even the softness of the bag when held will differ—this is a skill only an experienced craftsman can achieve. Everything is done entirely by hand, and it's said that only around four to five bags can be completed in a day.

CANDRIA TOMMASO × ZUTTO special-order items: four types.

For this special order, we aimed for a lineup that would add a touch of flair to simple dresses and T-shirts. These baskets—featuring brown rattan and leather with stitching—are a bit different from the standard lineup we introduce every year.

NEW! A sharp handbag in brown rattan × black leather

This handbag is shaped using a wooden mold and opens and closes with a magnetic snap button. The interior is lined with an easy-to-use fabric and includes one small pocket handy for storing keys and other small items. When opened, the gusset expands wide, just like the base, and it's well regarded for its practicality.

Compared to the natural rattan body we've introduced before, this time ZUTTO has commissioned a special-order brown rattan × black leather type that gives off a sharper, somewhat more "mode" impression. Paired with the bamboo handle, the way these three different materials come together so naturally is a testament to that distinctly Italian sense of style balance. Since it isn't an all-black bag, it doesn't feel heavy, yet compared to the natural rattan version it has a chic mood that's perfect for walking around town.

The reason we deliberately skipped the croco-embossed leather and used plain leather for the flap instead was to keep the elegance understated, so it could also be used casually. This is a design we'd especially recommend to those who aren't used to carrying basket bags in daily life.

The lineup comes in two sizes: "Small" and "Regular." Only the Small size comes with a leather shoulder strap.

Small Size

The Small size is easy to use, coming with a leather shoulder strap. It holds more than it looks like it would, but it's probably best thought of as closer to a "mini bag." Great for weekend outings or as a lighter weekday bag on days when you want to travel light.

Regular Size

The Regular size lets you pack plenty of belongings and carry them with ease. It's big enough to fit even a thick hardcover book without any trouble. There's room enough for a bulky pouch full of makeup for a full face, a long wallet, and a large hand towel all together, and since it opens up wide, it's easy to find what you need inside. Because the Regular size is a bit large in both height and width to wear over the shoulder, and the handle is also on the larger side, it's most comfortable simply carried by hand (it doesn't come with a shoulder strap). As we'll introduce later, it also pairs beautifully with a stole.

NEW! Natural Rattan × Camel Leather × Stitching

The bamboo handle paired with the firm body and leather gives off the elegance of a legendary actress from years past. The version with rattan used all the way to the flap has a fresh, spring-and-summer feel, and basket lovers might well think, "This is exactly what a basket bag should look like in the warmer months!" This version has both the handle and shoulder strap made of leather, and we specially ordered it with white stitching throughout.

Even the tab, which looks like it's sticking its tongue out, becomes more of a design accent thanks to the stitching.

The combination of brown leather and stitching seems well suited to a summer sky. It stands up on its own, making it convenient while on the move, and it would be lovely to bring along on a weekend or holiday trip.

NEW! The Box Mini Tote in Rattan × Stitched Leather, Prized for Its Lightness

This is a mini tote that ZUTTO fully custom-ordered. We trimmed away any unnecessary parts to lighten it up, resulting in a design where the stitching and hardware really stand out.

It's great for tossing in a wallet, handkerchief, or paperback book, and being able to pull things out easily is a nice touch.

Our classic basket is here too! Rattan Handbag with Bamboo Handle

A basket bag with a croco-embossed leather flap. It's a bestselling item. Simply adding one bag with this kind of attention to detail to a simple outfit can bring out your own personal style all the more. It's worth having one favorite, well-made bag on hand.

Rattan (touh) is a general term for plants of the palm family that grow wild in tropical rainforest regions, climbing up and around other plants as they grow taller and taller. Because it has very long fibers, it's well suited to weaving. Rattan is light and soft, easy to work with, but it also possesses a seemingly contradictory quality: strength. It's resistant to losing its shape, which makes it a reassuring material for bags that are carried daily and often bumped around. A handbag made mainly from rattan like this has a presence that can transform an outfit the moment you pick it up. Paired with a casual outfit of denim and a T-shirt, the bag really stands out, while paired with a neat blouse and heels, it brings a refined, polished feel to the whole look.

How's the Usability?

We designed the entire special-order series introduced here with everyday use in mind. Let's take a closer look at the details.

・It opens up wide, so it's easier to put things in and take them out than it looks

Rattan Handbag with Bamboo Handle, Special Order, Black, Regular

With the rattan handbag series, you might worry that the firm body makes it inconvenient to use, but it actually opens up so wide that you can fit surprisingly a lot inside. It's easy to put things in and take them out, and with soft items like pouches or towels, you can toss them in without much worry and it will still close properly. There's one pocket inside, so you can keep items you don't want mixed in with everything else there.

Rattan Handbag with Leather Handle, Special-Order Stitching

・The Small size of the rattan handbag comes with a shoulder strap, giving it 2-way functionality

Rattan Handbag Bamboo Handle Custom-Order Black Small

For the mini-size handbag, we had a shoulder strap made in matching leather. The rattan handbag leather handle custom-order stitching extends all the way to the shoulder strap. It can be worn over the shoulder or slung crossbody for a shorter drop, making it convenient for anyone who wants to keep both hands free.

・No need to carefully edit down your belongings—the regular size is, after all, so convenient.

Rattan Handbag Bamboo Handle Custom-Order Black Regular

Mini bags are easy to grab and adorable to look at, so it's tempting to reach for them every time. But once you actually start using one, you may find that having a slightly larger size on hand is incredibly convenient. The regular-size handbag lets you carry your everyday essentials—pouch, wallet, towel, notebook, even a paperback—without worrying about their size. It's a size we'd love for you to use in all kinds of situations, whether on weekdays or weekends.

・Have fun changing up the look with a scarf

CANDRIA TOMMASO bags pair beautifully with vibrant scarves. This is especially true of the "Custom-Order Black" type we had made this time—the match is really excellent! You could use a scarf you already love, or perhaps bring back one that felt a bit too bold and has been sitting unused in your closet. The look isn't as polished as an all-leather bag, yet it has a refined, heart-fluttering charm—striking just the right balance.