Fashion That Stands for More
We are not a perfect brand. But we are an honest one.
Every choice we make — what the bags are made from, how many we produce, who we work with — is a deliberate decision. Not because it's easier. Because we believe the fashion industry has to do better, and we'd rather be part of that change than pretend it isn't happening.
The Material
Our bags are made from Piñatex — a bio-based material derived from pineapple leaf fibre. Pineapple leaves are an agricultural byproduct: they would otherwise be left to rot or burned after harvest. We use them instead.
No animal hides. No virgin plastic. A material that exists at the intersection of waste reduction and innovation.
We want to be transparent about what Piñatex is and isn't. It contains a polyurethane coating — it is not a perfectly "natural" material. But it has a significantly lower environmental footprint than animal leather, requires no new land use, and creates no animal harm. For us, it is the best available option right now. We are actively watching the space for materials that go further.
Where We Make
Our bags are designed in New York City and manufactured in China. We say this openly because transparency matters more to us than the story that sounds better.
Francesco trained in Rome and brings European design precision to every piece. The production happens where we can maintain the quality standards the designs require. We work with a manufacturing partner who meets our standards for construction and material integrity.
We are a small, independent brand. We do not have the leverage of a large house. What we do have is a direct relationship with our production, and a commitment to knowing exactly what we are making and how.
Small Runs. Intentional Production.
We design in small quantities. This is not a marketing claim — it is a structural choice. Overproduction is one of the fashion industry's most damaging habits. We would rather sell out than create waste.
Every piece is made to order or in limited batches. If something sells out, we consider carefully whether to restock. We are not chasing volume.
One Tree Planted
Every order plants one tree through our partnership with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit reforestation organisation. Not as a carbon offset. Not as a marketing tool. As a commitment — because what you buy should leave the world better than it found it.
Since launch we have planted trees across reforestation projects in the Americas and beyond. The number grows with every order.
LGBTQ+ Owned
Pimpinicchio New York is founded and led by Francesco Pimpinicchio — an openly gay Italian-born designer based in New York. The brand was built for people who were told their style was too much. That includes the LGBTQ+ community, which has always been at the heart of what we make and who we make it for.
We support LGBTQ+ rights actively, not symbolically. That means donating, speaking, and showing up — not just putting a flag on a product.
What We Are Working On
We believe in stating honestly where we are, not just where we want to be. Here is what we are actively working to improve:
Packaging — we are transitioning to fully recycled and recyclable packaging across all orders.
Material development — we are watching the next generation of plant-based leathers closely. When a material that performs better and impacts less becomes viable at our scale, we will move to it.
Supply chain transparency — we are working toward being able to share more specific information about our manufacturing partners.
This page will be updated as we make progress. If you have questions about any of this — ask us. hello@pimpinicchio.com
