Selle Italia unveils throwback leather saddle line

Classic Italian style and intricate details define Selle Italia’s new line of handmade leather saddles. The new Sella — notice the final “a” instead of “e” — Italia heritage line was developed to celebrate the company’s 120th anniversary by taking a look back in time.

Founded in 1897 just outside of Milan, Selle Italia gained its chops making leather saddles for everyday bikes that were meant for transportation. When the Bigolin family took over in the 1970s, the company turned its attention toward competitive cycling, manufacturing saddles for professional racers. From Merckx to Moser and Indurain to Pantani, countless victories have been notched atop a Selle Italia saddle.

With owner Giuseppe Bigolin behind the wheel, Selle Italia has embraced new technologies as quickly as they’ve emerged, leading the way in saddle innovation for decades. The company was the first to introduce an anatomical saddle with different thicknesses. It experimented with shock absorbing elements and dove into the carbon market to make its first full carbon saddle in 1991. Experimentation and modern development have been a hallmark of this classic Italian brand.

Taking a step backward, therefore, and looking to the past while designing the new-old Sella Italia line seems like a departure …

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