Dennis Napolitan
Melina Custom Leather,
Hand Crafted Leather work.
For information on how & where to purchase Dennis's goods
& for custom requests please email Dennis@AmphitriteStudio.com.
Working with leather brings a sense of order and well-being into the life of Dennis Napolitan, designer and creator of Malina; Custom Leather.
As a young boy he watched his mothers' hands as she played the piano or tailored garments for her customers.
Newly married, his wife commissioned a custom guitar case for his birthday.
Walking into the studio to pick up the gift he was enveloped by memory, this time by the added smell of leather.
It wasn't until the late '60's that these elements came together in the form of Dnaz.
It was a very hip and very successful design and manufacturing company headquartered in New York City.
Along with his mentor & their two partners, Dennis Napolitan gave birth to one of the most versatile and prolific leather work businesses of the era.
With youth, talent and sheer will Dnaz quickly expanded from manufacturing bags, shoes and garments for major retailers to having their own retail outlets and creating custom music cases for many of the days' musical groups. One piece, a custom presentation case made for Warner Brothers had its own first class seat on the flight from New York to Los Angeles.
Fast forward thirty five years, roads less traveled, family and life.
The fire never went out and now this rich history is rekindled as Malina; Custom Leather Works.
It seems only natural to honor his mother by naming this new life of his after the very one who gave him life.