About Tissa
“I first fell in love with accessories as a teenager, sitting in the dining room of a luxury hotel in southern Italy, watching the sophisticated, tanned women in their beautiful summer outfits. I could feel the softness of their leather bags only by looking at them while some of the necklaces they wore reminded me of far away and exotic places. More than just a fashion accessory, it was these individual touches that accentuated the unique personality of each woman wearing them.” Tissa Fontaneda
Born in Munich, Germany in 1965, Tissa Fontaneda spent the majority of her life abroad. After graduating from the University of Turin, Italy, with a Ph.D in Literature and Philosophy, she then moved to Paris to pursue her teenage dream of working in fashion. It was at Daniel Swarovski that Tissa began her career as a design assistant to Rosemarie Le Gallais and Hervé Leger. Tissa relocated to Madrid 5 years later and the joined the Spanish luxury brand Loewe to develop the Thierry Mugler handbag collection.
At Loewe, Tissa learned about handbag manufacturing and leathers from some of the world’s greatest European artisans. When Loewe was acquired by the LVMH group, Tissa was invited by the president Yves Carcelle to be Head of Product for Loewe accessories under Narciso Rodriguez. In addition to Loewe, she also worked with several other brands including Cartier, Dunhill, Connolly, and Louis Vuitton.
Driven by a strong desire to merge her creative vision with her expertise in the world of luxury accessories, Tissa launched her eponymous label – classic luxury with a modern twist - in 2010. Characterized by impeccable quality, artisan craftsmanship and attention to detail, the Tissa Fontaneda collection consists of exquisitely designed handbags, necklaces, belts and cuffs, recognizable for their standard of excellence, not their logos. Classic and timeless, a Tissa Fontaneda handbag or accessory is one you will fall in love with over and over again.
The instantly recognizable ”Bubble Bag”; has become the signature of the Tissa Fontaneda collection. Handmade using the nest, velvety soft Spanish nappa, the bubble effect can only be achieved through a lengthy and complex steaming process where each section of leather is individually handcrafted by skilled artisans. The result is a unique, striking handbag guaranteed to be a conversation piece!