Southern Hands: The Art of Craftsmanship and Personality in Fashion

TheModernAge Team attended the latest edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence, where it had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Raffaele Stella Brienza, a talented Lucanian designer and founder of “

Southern Hands

“: a brand of men’s-women’s accessories that stands out for its combination of high-qualitycraftsmanship and modern design.

In a world where the fashion is increasingly associated with the
globalization
and to the
mass market
, two phenomena that tend to homogenize style and offer similar items around the world; there are still those who, like Hands of the South, pledges to preserve uniqueness and the personality of the products, offering creations that carry with them the roots cultural and the craft traditions.

Southern Hands began ten years ago as a project to reconcile Raffaele Stella Brienza with his past and his Lucanian origins. After living in Florence for 30 years, he decided to create a connection with his home territory through his brand, which, starting with the very name “Southern Hands,” is a tribute to the designer’s roots, evoking the image of the hardworking hands of southern Italy.

In fact, his creative vision is inspired by melancholy memories of Basilicata, his homeland. The beating heart and soul of the brand is the
Papillon
, a symbol of sophistication and uniqueness, complemented by the authentic style of hats and lightweight silk scarves. Southern Hands creations are the result of painstaking craftsmanship, made entirely by hand with extraordinary fabrics and unique decorations.

The use of fine materials such as special cubic zirconia underscores the focus on quality and excellence. This focus gives rise to a contemporary elegance that blends Italian tradition with perspectives toward future visions and also allows for the preservation of the legacy of Italian craftsmanship by demonstrating that it is still a core value worth nurturing.

The Brand debuted with a men’s line in 2013, immediately characterizing itself with an authentic and distinctive style.
In 2021, Southern Hands extended its creativity to the female universe as well, expanding its reach and offering both genders the chance to express their personalities through exclusive and distinctive accessories.

Regarding the Pitti experience, Raphael told us:

[…] it’s been terrific because there are so many attendees and we’ve done a great job and it’s the second day, we’ve opened markets and so we’re really very satisfied.”

According to him, it is crucial for fashion to maintain its Personality as there is a strong homogenization of products and the diversity of styles in the fashion industry is increasingly reduced. The designer’s question in this regard was:

“[…] Why create something that is already there or that does not give a new feeling? We give just this opportunity, […] those who come to our atelier have just the opportunity to build something for themselves and make a gift for themselves, because I have traveled the world and you go to Los Angeles you go to New York and in Hong Kong and you always find the same boutiques with the same products, and I also find it a bit debasing.”

The goal of Southern Hands is, therefore, to offer customers the opportunity to have something unique for themselves, a keepsake, something special, a one-of-a-kind piece in the world that carries with it a story while at the same time being a common thread between past, present e future.