Dear Friends-

As many of you know, the name Uno Alla Volta is Italian for one at a time, which is how each of our handmade treasures is created. To reflect on the true meaning of this phrase, I implore you to peer at your children, who, even with near identical genes, have so many differences in their appearances and personalities. Even identical twins have distinguishing marks and mannerisms separating them from their counterparts. Pick two leaves off a tree or two petals off a flower, and you will see how no two things are precisely the same shape or have the same patterns or striations. If you want to get really into this experiment, bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies and try to find two that are indistinguishable from one another. Impossible!

Our handmade treasures are no different. Often, we will hold two of the “same” items in our hands and observe slight variations in color, texture, pattern and shape. Because of the centuries-old artisan traditions used to create these pieces, the item you receive may not look perfectly identical to the item pictured, and there is so much magic behind this variance. As you know, the only way to produce virtually identical products is through the cold compliance of a machine. Instead, our products tell the complete story of a moment frozen in time. Slight changes in temperature, shifts in hand movements, or even production changes, such as an artisan running out of a skein of fabric, will slightly alter the final product. All of these variables come together in the finished pieces to tell full and elaborate origin stories. Through these so-called imperfections, our treasures take on individual identities, not unlike snowflakes or seashells. They have more history and more soul than factory-made products. Handcrafted one at a time by skilled artisans across the world, our handmade pieces are sure to surprise and delight you with their rich histories and uniqueness.

Gratefully yours,