Did you know our founder, James Lor, started his entrepreneurial journey as a kid in Chinatown, Singapore, reselling lottery tickets for a little extra pocket money? Life wasn’t always easy—growing up in the 1960s, James got caught up in the drugs and gang culture that was all too common in less affluent areas. By the time he was 15, he had dropped out of school, and the 1980s brought even bigger challenges, including his first jail sentence.
But life has a way of turning things around. During a rehabilitation program, James discovered leather crafting by learning to bind leather-covered Bibles. It was here, stitching page by page, that he found a passion that would shape the rest of his life.
Unfortunately, finding employment after his release was not easy. The stigma of being an ex-convict meant repeated rejections at job interviews, and James soon realised he would have to take matters into his own hands. Against the odds, he secured a small loan from a local bank and began purchasing leather and metal buckles to produce his own belts.
He sold his products door-to-door for a year before convincing department stores to carry them. This early success boosted his confidence and ignited a desire to create more complex products, including bags and wallets.
James’ love for leather and commitment to craftsmanship eventually led him to Florence, Italy, where he apprenticed under Valecchi Stefano. There, he mastered the precision and artistry of Italian leatherwork, skills he would later bring back to Singapore.
Inspired by the intricate techniques, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional quality of the Italian craftsmen, he felt compelled to make such craftsmanship accessible to the Asian market at an affordable price. In 1986, he launched TOSCANO in various department stores across the island.
Just two years later, the Duran collection made its debut. It quickly became an icon and bestseller, celebrated for its timeless design and practicality. Over the years, the brand evolved. After initially licensing TOSCANO, Stefano sold the trademark, and the brand was rebranded as Tocco Toscano. In 1992, we opened our first boutique store at the former Park Mall, giving customers a dedicated space to explore our craftsmanship firsthand.
Fast forward to 2015, when James’ son, Joseph, took over as CEO, allowing James to focus on what he loves most—designing and creating leather goods. The following year, Tocco Toscano stepped into the digital age, building an e-commerce platform and growing an online community, connecting with new generations of customers while staying true to the values James instilled.
Now, forty years on, our mission remains as clear as ever: to create products that support your everyday life, so you can live easier and carry fashionably. From the first Duran pieces to our latest Heritage Collection, we continue to celebrate the craftsmanship, functionality, and timeless design that have defined us from the very beginning.