BACK TO THE ROOTS: To mark the 10th anniversary of its Pasticcino bag, Weekend Max Mara returns to where it all began.

The fifth chapter titled “Italian Roots” of its annual world tour lands in Florence, bringing the project, launched in 2022, back to Italy.

Inspired by the country’s rich artistic heritage, the collection showcases six special-edition, numbered Pasticcino Bags crafted with luxurious fabrics from Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio, a historic Florence-based mill founded by Giuseppe Lisio in 1906. 

After WWII, Fidalma, Giuseppe Lisio’s daughter, took over and established the Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio in 1971 to preserve the family’s legacy of velvets, brocades, lampas and damasks. This cultural institution has a dual purpose: producing exclusive fabrics while protecting the historical archive and training new artisans through its renowned school.

The new Pasticcino Bag models feature jacquard fabrics with designs inspired by Tuscany’s historic monuments and palazzos, including a marble-white wave pattern; a mix of burnt brown, black, white and gray; bold stripes reminiscent of facades and columns; a wavy Renaissance pink design; a graphic square motif echoing coffered ceilings, and geometric polka dots in black and white.

The Pasticcino bags’ signature ball clasps are crafted by Budri, a fine marble specialist founded in 1961 with more than 64 years of experience and expertise in retail, residential, yachting and fashion.

The Italian marbles used for the Pasticcino Bag include some of the most renowned like Bardiglio Carrara in cerulean-streaked ivory; white veined Calacatta Belgia from Carrara; Fiori di Pesco Carnico, with its rose-veined grayish/ivory base; licorice black slabs of Nero di Ormea or Portoro Extra, defined by warm-toned or golden flecked surfaces, and deep green Issogne. They are paired with precious fabrics in visually engaging combinations. The large and medium Pasticcino Bags will also feature a marble insert along the silver or bronzed metal trim of the closure. 

Following previous stops in Venice, Kyoto, Paris and Granada, the brand is hosting a two-day event held in Florence on Monday and Tuesday to launch the new collection.