The story of Studio Tondini is one of heritage, reinvention, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. Its founder, Roberta Tondini, began her professional life in the legal field, working firstly in Milan, then in London, and later in Zurich, Switzerland, managing tax for private wealth. However, despite her achievements, she felt an irresistible pull toward design, a calling deeply rooted in her family’s entrepreneurial tradition.
Her grandparents once ran A. Garau, a distinguished boutique in Sardinia known for its impeccable selection of prestigious brands and fabrics. Building on this legacy, her aunt opened Mademoiselle in Cagliari, a women’s boutique that became an immediate success. Its growth enabled her to introduce major international labels to Sardinia, and, notably, to bring Luisa Spagnoli to the island in the 1950s. “I grew up learning to look at things with my hands rather than just their labels,” Roberta recalls. “That approach, and the integral Made in Italy ethos of our grandparents’ time, when everything was chosen and crafted in Italy with exceptional results, is what led me to create Studio Tondini.”
Founded in 2021, Studio Tondini started as a side venture but quickly found fertile ground, particularly within the luxury hospitality sector. Collaborations with prestigious hotels such as the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne and the Belmond group have brought the brand’s creations to select points of sale within these iconic destinations. The brand’s philosophy naturally resonated with discerning travellers: the accessory is, in fact, ‘crafted to measure’ around modern life, ensuring that its wearer never has to give up anything-neither the practical needs of travel nor the demands of modern technology- while always feeling comfortable and at ease.
Studio Tondini’s designs are also available through carefully chosen retail partners, including Lovebrook and Green, an online department store that features only brands meeting strict sustainability certifications, such as B Corp or Benefit Company status, alongside other recognised standards. Such partnerships perfectly reflect Studio Tondini’s sustainable ethos.
When asked who is the ‘Studio Tondini man or woman’, Roberta explains, “it is someone who loves beauty but also questions it; someone accustomed to handling true luxury objects and appreciating not only the product but also the values behind it.” It is here that her concept of functional luxury comes into play: “There’s a lot of luxury that isn’t functional, and functionality without luxury. I believe in merging the two.”
From the beginning, Roberta embedded sustainability into the DNA of her brand. In fact, Studio Tondini earned the Butterfly Mark from Positive Luxury, a UK-based global organisation that unites leading experts in sustainable luxury. “We took a complete snapshot of our processes and documented them to align with even stricter sustainable practices,” she explains. The brand for instance uses only the highest-quality materials: precious metals like palladium and 24-carat gold for hardware, genuine leather, as well as innovative vegan alternatives such as Piñatex-a pineapple leaf fibre that contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions- and Mirum, a fully recyclable material made from natural rubber and industry by-products such as those from rice processing and rope manufacturing.
Beyond its materials, the brand embraces a broader social responsibility. Studio Tondini supports global initiatives such as Days For Girls, that provide health education and resources for young women in underserved communities, helping to ensure that equal educational opportunities are not interrupted by personal or societal challenges. “For us, it’s essential that no one is left behind,” says Roberta, underscoring the brand’s belief in empowerment through access to education.
Still, keeping the production entirely Made in Italy has been both a point of pride and a challenge: “Many artisans are tied to large fashion houses,” Roberta notes, “the ones we work with-and I am proud and grateful for them-support our vision of ‘doing things the old way.’ If it takes more time, that’s perfectly fine. In this way, we’ve brought back the focus on the highest craftsmanship that risked being lost in today’s fast-paced era of fashion.”
At its core, Studio Tondini lives by three principles: savoir faire (the art of making), savoir vivre (the art of living), and savoir choisir (the art of choosing), meaning devoting oneself to what truly matters. With upcoming creative collaborations with figures Roberta deeply admires, the brand’s journey of blending heritage, ethics, and artistry has only just begun.
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