The president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, has included the head of a leathergoods business based in the north-eastern province of Udine among 25 new business leaders to receive a prestigious national honour, writes Leatherbiz.

Each year on June 2, to mark Italy’s Republic Day, the country’s president makes leaders from a wide range of business sectors ‘Cavalieri del Lavoro’, or members of the national Order of Merit for Labour.

Among the 25 new ‘cavalieri’ for 2023 is Mario Biasutti, chief executive of leathergoods manufacturing group Mabi International.

The company, which has its headquarters in San Daniele del Friuli in Udine and factories in Tuscany and Veneto, is a supplier of high-end bags and accessories to major luxury brands, including Chanel, Chloé and Givenchy.

Mabi International employs 300 people, and produces more than 120,000 bags and 300,000 small leather accessories each year.