Renowned Glove-Maker Drawn to Historic Gloversville
culture, daniel storto, glove-making capital, gloversville, historic, hollywood stars, italian leather,
When renowned “Glovemaker to the Hollywood Stars” Daniel Storto packed his bags and moved from Los Angeles to Gloversville – population 15‚000 – his family and friends thought he was “nuts.”
But Storto – who designs and hand-stitches gloves for Madonna‚ Cher‚ Celine Dion‚ Goldie Hawn and a host of other celebrities – knew exactly what he was doing … or where he was going.
“Gloversville was the glove-making capital of the world at one time‚ and I am fascinated by its rich history‚” Storto says. “I love hearing stories about Gloversville at its peak‚ acquiring historical glove-making tools and meeting with elder glove makers. They’ve taught me ways to enhance my craft.”
Storto moved to Gloversville with his young son‚ Andre‚ in 2001 and set up shop in a Main Street storefront‚ where his striking window display changes every couple of weeks. The store houses Storto’s studio as well as a selection of gloves available for locals and tourists to buy.
Made of imported Italian leather‚ Storto’s celebrity-style gloves start at around $500‚ but he also makes designer children’s gloves and inexpensive wool jersey gloves that sell for $10 a pair.
“Tourists love that‚ because they can take a piece of Gloversville home with them‚” Storto says. “My shop is a window to the world of glove making. People can see all the historical tools‚ me in my apron and all the stock.”
Meanwhile‚ Storto’s clients and counterparts in New York and L.A. get a kick out of the fact he’s based in Gloversville.
“People ask where I live‚ and when I say‚ ‘Gloversville‚ New York‚’ they say‚ ‘Oh‚ that’s a good one‚ Daniel‚’ ” Storto says. “But when they realize I’m telling the truth‚ people are fascinated.”
Storto makes frequent trips to New York City for appointments‚ but he’s always happy to come back home.
“I’m a big-city kid‚ so I know the rapid speed of life‚” he says. “The sense of community here is quite soothing and calm. It’s more real. The beauty of Gloversville is not in your face. It’s an inner beauty.”
Storto‚ who is also a poet‚ is currently working on a new line of gloves that will be etched with his poetry.
“I feed the leather through a vintage typewriter‚ so my poetry is being transferred onto the gloves‚” he says. “I see myself as a glove artist‚ because I take glove making to another level.”
It’s that kind of creativity that has kept a handful of Fulton County’s veteran leather companies in business‚ despite the fact that the majority of the glove making industry has moved overseas to the Middle East and Asia. Rather than give up their trades‚ local companies are finding new ways to work with leather.
Townsend Leather‚ for example‚ was founded in 1969 as a producer of gloves and jackets‚ but today the company makes upholstery leather for aircraft‚ yachts‚ automobiles and luxury motor coaches. Townsend is also known for its custom color matching.
“In the early ’90s‚ we witnessed other leather companies struggling here‚” says Sarah Eckler‚ director of marketing for Townsend Leather. “There were once 300 leather companies‚ and now it’s down to about 12.”
Eckler says Townsend was able to adapt by “elevating leather to a high-end textile and constantly creating unique‚ highly decorative leathers. As long as we keep looking for new strategies and providing solutions‚ we’ll keep being successful.”
Carville National Leather Corp. in Johnstown still processes some glove leathers for the military‚ but their main focus has shifted to leathers for footwear‚ upholstery‚ the automotive industry and garments.
“A new thing we’re doing is leather tiles for floor and wall coverings‚” says Bobby Carville‚ president of Carville National Leather Corp. Carville’s father‚ Hugh‚ founded the company in 1967.
“The tanneries still in business have had to be aggressive in the marketplace and create our own business opportunities‚” Carville adds. “It gives me pride to know we’re part of the history of this area‚ and we have every intention of carrying on our business‚ knowing it will continue to change. There’ll be many more challenges‚ and we’ll face them one at a time.”
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Michael W. Bunch
