As a young man, he grew restless to find his own calling in life. He left the security of home to see the world and made his way to South Africa. In spite of his many friendships there, he endured difficult hardships. To improve his situation, he learned that ownership was key.

Nobody but him could turn things around. A man matured by adversity, he returned to Italy and found his father’s business—a business his family depended on—near failure. The challenge was formidable. It demanded resolve and required grit. Relying on his hard-earned wisdom, he fought to bring it back. At the same time, he joined a boxing gym to stay focused and kept his spirits high. At last, the hard fight was over: his father’s business was successful again.

It was during that trial when Filippo discovered his true calling: to make the world’s most elegant, highest quality, and best performing boxing gloves. With a tenacious character, time-honored experience and a love for the sport, he committed to making this dream a reality. While still working on the design and perfecting the execution, he opened a boxing shop. But trials still lay ahead as he faced a major downturn when the global economy soured. Championed by his father, Filippo marshalled his fighting spirit and pulled his business through. This wasn’t to last, however. A few years later, he faced yet another downturn, this one a devastating blow. He returned to the gym to clear his mind. After his workout, he stood over the locker room sink, water dripping from his chin, and looked at himself in the mirror. This was the toughest fight of his life, but he refused to back down. He would see it through, no matter what.

Filippo invested everything into his gloves. Taking control of his situation meant taking control of his business. He released his final design, a masterpiece of quality and craftsmanship. He made gloves to order and sold online, opting for one-on-one relationships with his customers where he could guarantee the highest service. Little by little, his business grew, then flourished. To this day, top tier boxers praise his gloves, recognized as the best in the world.

As long-standing customers and personal friends of Filippo, we at Di Nardo USA are inspired by his fighter’s spirit and commitment to excellence in leather goods, offering the world one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality footwear. To achieve this, our hand-numbered shoes are produced in small quantities and crafted to order, embodying the same commitment as Filippo's renowned boxing gloves. We recognize that a truly great product can only come as a result of grit, determination, exceptional materials, and master craftsmanship. Browse our site and discover more about each component that makes us exceptional, then enroll to purchase a limited-edition pair for yourself. Join us as we strive to carry on the honorable legacy of hard-earned excellence.