Shantal was born in Bergen, Norway and has lived all over the world. Because she had grown up in the cold Scandinavian climate where the winters were short but very cold, she found herself spending more time in sunny Italy, lingering there longer than anywhere else on the globe.  It was there that Shantal found her spiritual home. She was fascinated by Italian history and culture, especially in Florence.  She spent timeless days on the Ponte Vecchio admiring the crafts and studying the arts.  It was in this particular place that her love of Italian leather and the name of Fiorentino Design evolved.


On my many visits to Florence, I walked the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, admiring the quality of the fine workmanship of the leather artisans on this bridge and the history of this trade. The name is reminiscent of the great city of Florence where I could almost imagine the well-dressed noblemen of the Renaissance taking gold coins from their borsettos. Fiorentino Design accessories were created to meet the needs of today's busy lifestyle, while maintaining the spirit of this craftsmanship.

The Borsetto evolved from the need to be able to find my cell phone or eyeglasses quickly and easily in a stylish way. So I started to design and produce everyday leather accessories that are both beautiful and functional.

Fiorentino Design will be offering more designs and accessories in the near future.