ALEXANDRE BIRMAN

July 10, 2019 Stefano Casarola

Birman is born in a family of shoes manufacturers: his father Anderson Birman and his uncle Jefferson, in 1972 in Brazil, founded together the shoes brand Arezzo. Their factories are still located not far from the city of Porto Alegre. Alexandre therefore spent his childhood in the shoes factory starting to draw at the age of 12. In 1995, at the age of 19, he has founded his own label: Schutz. In 2007 he has taken over the management of the family group and in 2008 he has launched his eponymous brand, positioning it on the luxury market and finding the appreciation of celebrities. Thanks to his refined creations characterized by the use of exotic leathers, in 2009 he has won the prestigious "Vivian Infanto Emerging Talent Award".

All the photos from alexandrebirman.com

BENEDETTA BOROLI

June 19, 2019 Stefano Casarola

Benedetta Boroli is born in Novara. After a degree in Economics and Cultural Heritage Management and some work experiences in the television context, she decides to come back to her true passion: shoes. She starts studying again at the Ars Sutoria School in Milan where she learns the techniques of design, modeling and prototyping applied to footwear. This way, combining passion, knowledge and careful research of shapes and colors, in 2107, she launches her first collection, produced by the skilled hands of Marche footwear district artisans.

All the photos from: benedettaboroli.com

DONDOKS: JOIE DE VIVRE

May 22, 2019 Stefano Casarola

Dondoks is a French-Mexican-Brasilian shoe brand, created by two friends who met thanks to their common passion for dancing. Carmen and Charlotte in fact started ballet at a very young age, one in Mexico and the other in France, and have met in Paris where they have worked as showgirls in famous cabarets like Moulin Rouge and Lido. The idea of Dondoks came to Carmen during her travel in Spain. She was searching for a pair of nice sandals but couldn’t find anything she really liked. Once back she shared the idea of creating something on their own with Charlotte who had graduated at International Fashion School Esmod. So they started working on the project Dondoks, a collection of colorful shoes made with high quality materials, inspired by their latin roots and cabaret beackground, made in Brazil.

PAOLA D'ARCANO

April 10, 2019 Stefano Casarola

Paola D’arcano is a brand entirely made in Italy. Paola Vitali D’arcano, has been working in the fashion industry for 20 years, and in 2014, together with her husband, she has decided to launch her women's footwear collection. The originality and identity of her shoes come from a sophisticated use of leather and original fabrics. The inspiration comes from her area of origin, the Lake of Como, a city famous for the silk production.

All the photos from: paoladarcano.it

RAYNE LONDON

January 16, 2019 Stefano Casarola

Rayne London is a british brand that have been producing shoes from 1885, concentrating in that period in the realization of theatre models. When in 1947 the Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen, wore a pair of Rayne shoes for her wedding to Prince Philip, it was the beginning of Rayne’s golden era. Today Rayne is run by Nicholas, the founder’s great-grandson, and the disigner Ernesto Esposito is the creative director of the brand. The shoes, totally produced in Italy in the well known manufacturing district of Riviera del Brenta, want to maintain the sophistication of the past mixed with modern designs. A touch of heritage for contemporary luxury shoes.

All the photos taken from: rayneshoes.co.uk

ANCARANI

December 12, 2018 Stefano Casarola

Daniele Ancarani is born in Bologna. After working as a designer for women's footwear companies like Buccheri, Bruno Magli and Di Sandro, in 2001 he launches his first collection. Daniele Ancarani uses his creativity to design elegant and comfortable shoes, a sophisticated product which is characterized by the simplicity of the shapes and carefully handcrafted details.

In 2014, thanks to the partnership with Fabio Alibrandi, Daniele’s life and work companion, the brand begins to grow: a new showroom is opened in Bologna and some new shops are opened around Italy: Catania, Rimini, Roma, Torino.

All photos taken from: damieleancarani.com

Edgardo Osorio - AQUAZZURA

November 14, 2018 Stefano Casarola

The Italian luxury footwear brand AQUAZZURA was founded by Edgardo Osorio in 2011. Colombian-born, and raised between Miami and London, Edgardo attended the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. He made his first step into the footwear world working with some of the most prestigious luxury brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, René Caovilla and Roberto Cavalli. At just 25 years old, he launched his luxury footwear brand, whose headquarters are situated at Palazzo Corsini, in the heart of Florence, keeping him in immediate proximity with his suppliers and manufacturers. He combines his passion for modern design with impeccable luxury craftsmanship to create timeless footwear with a twist, both sexy and incredibly comfortable. After just seven years, AQUAZZURA is available at over 300 top retailers of the world in over 58 countries, and Osorio gained global recognition as an innovator in the footwear industry.

All the photos taken from aquazzura.com

SOPHIA WEBSTER

July 11, 2018 Stefano Casarola

Sophia Webster was born in 1985 in South Africa, but now London is her new home. She graduated at Cordwainers College and The Royal College of Art. After working as Assistant Designer to Nicholas Kirkwood, she founded her eponymous label in 2012 and she debuted her first collection for Spring/Summer 2013. In 2016 she won the BFC Vogue Fashion Fund, becoming the first female shoe designer in history to receive this prestigious prize. Always in 2016, her first flagship retail store was opened in Mount Street, Mayfair, London. Her designs are all hand-drawn and conceptualised within the company headquarters in East London. She has become renowned for combining feminine design with a sophisticated approach. She doesn’t worry too much about what her competitors are doing, but she trusts her own vision trying to find a balance between creativity and commerce. She prefers high heel, colorful and decorative shoes but in her collections she also presents flats and sneakers for a more casual style.

All the photos taken from sophiawebster.com.

MANFREDI MANARA

June 13, 2018 Stefano Casarola

Manfredi Manara is born in Monaco. He grows between Milan and London. Here he graduates at London College of Fashion, and after some job experiences in New York and Paris, he decides to consacrate his skills to the most revered of accessories, the high heel shoes. He finds the perfect supplier able to produce the highest quality shoes in Parabiago, a location in Italy, where for decades some of the industry’s most skilled artisans have been making luxury footwear for the finest names in fashion. Manfredi Manara launches his eponymous women’s shoe line with the spring summer 2017 collection. His shoes feature classic shapes that focus on slenderness and femininity. Most of them are embellished with custom-made intricate fabric trims known as “passamanerie”, giving each shoe a patina of nostalgic romanticism. Today Manfredi lives and works in Milan and has began collaborating with other shoe brands as well as focusing on his own collection.

All the photos taken from manfredimanara.com

ANDREA MONDIN

May 9, 2018 Stefano Casarola

Andrea Mondin was born in Valdobbiadene (Treviso, Italy). He attended High Art School in Treviso. He completed an European Fashion Course in Pordenone, which granted him an internship in the style department of Roberto Cavalli in Florence. After this experience he moved to Milan where he attended the Istituto Europeo di Design. Once completed the courses, he gained experience in the shoes and accessories field, working as a designer for the D&G brand. After three years with them, he was contacted by Gianni Versace. He became the designer of the Versace women’s shoes collection and then of the Versus accessories. In 2016 he launches his first luxury shoes collection and creates his own brand: ANDREA MONDIN, and in 2017, he won the Accessories prize at Who’s on Next ? 2017: the contest devoted to emerging talents, conceived and realized by AltaRoma in collaboration with Vogue Italia. For Andrea Mondin the most important thing is to create his shoes following the Italian handmade tradition and the technical process including the cut and the drapery.

All the photos taken from andreamondin.com

HENDER SCHEME

December 13, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Hender Scheme is a Japanese footwear and accessories label based in Tokyo, Japan, founded by designer Ryo Kashiwazaki in 2010. Everything started when Ryo, nephew of a dressmaker and son of an employee of Isetan, one of the most important department stores in Tokyo, found a part-time job in a small shoes factory. This occupation became a real passion, a passion that Ryo transformed into a an independent firm: Hender Scheme. The brand is notable for reproducing popular sneaker models, such as Nike’s Air Force 1, Air Jordan IV and Adidas Superstar , completely by hand in premium leather as part of its Manual Industrial Products (MIP) line. Aside from sneakers, Hender Scheme also produces an array of high-quality handcrafted leather accessories such as belts, bucket hats, laptop sleeves, notebooks, and keychains.

Adidas, instead of suing Hender Scheme for infringement of patent rights, has decided to collaborate with Kashiwazaki and to create a capsule collection constructed with the handcraft process of Ryo, made with vegetable tanned leather in its natural color. The package includes a Superstar, a Micropacer and a NMD R1. Unfortunately prices of these limited editions are quite high, being above 900 euro.

From: adidasoriginalsbyhenderscheme.com - SUPERSTAR HS

From: adidasoriginalsbyhenderscheme.com - MICROPACER HS

From: adidasoriginalsbyhenderscheme.com - NMD R1 HS

Paola Gerbase

November 29, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Paula Gerbase, a London-based designer, is the artistic director of the luxury English footwear brand John Lobb, owned by the Hermès Group. The position sees her responsible for all collections, ready-to-wear, bespoke and accessories, as well as the creative development of the brand. When she started her work at the footwear label for the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, John Lobb’s CEO Renaud Paul-Dauphin said: “We wish to bring a modern vision to the brand, whilst respecting its intrinsic values of craftsmanship.” Gerbase, studied at Central Saint Martins, she trained in couture tailoring at the atelier of Hardy Amies, and then worked for five years as Head Designer of Savile Row tailor Kilgour. During these years in Savile Row she immersed herself in a world of rigorous craft and absolute attention to detail. Her brand "1205" was launched in 2010. It focuses on quality of cut, fabric and proportion. Her menswear and womenswear collections have immediately gained attention from the most prestigious stores in Japan, including United Arrows, Isetan, Beams and Dover Street Market, followed by worldwide stockists such as Browns, 10 Corso Como and Net a Porter.

Founded in 1866, John Lobb specialises in handmade shoes and boots for men and was acquired in 1976 by the Hermès Group. John Lobb himself was born in 1829 in Cornwall, but made his way to London as a young man as an apprentice bootmaker. He set up his first shop on Regent Street in 1866. He rapidly established itself as the premier boot and shoemaker of the day, providing a bespoke service to the aristocracy, as well as the political and business elite. In 1902 the company opened its first store in Paris, which echoed its London success and attracted a broad array of international clients. The company continues to maintain its bespoke shoe-making, also retaining bespoke principles in the manufacture of its ready-to-wear collection with its 190-step manufacturing process for each pair of shoes. The collection, which includes all the iconic classics, such as the William 'monk' shoe and the Lopez loafer, as well new models reflecting contemporary lifestyles, always retains the timeless traditions of John Lobb: exceptional quality, fine craftsmanship, comfort, durability and elegance.

William "monk" model. From johnlobb.com. Man collection.

Lopez model. From johnlobb.com. Man collection.

Hawthorn model. From johnlobb.com. Women collection.

Hawkes model. From johnlobb.com. Women collection.

Samuele Failli

November 1, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Samuele Failli was born in Tuscany. He began his career as a jewelry designer in his hometown. Soon he realized his passion was in design. So he moved to London and was immediately accepted at the London Fashion Institute for Footwear design. In 2004 after the final show he was contacted by Prada and offered the position as junior designer for Miu Miu mens and womens shoes. It was in these 7 years with Prada that Samuele built his technical knowledge and transformed it into a vision that made him who he is today. After Prada he started to work for some of the most prestigious global brands such as Tom Ford in London and Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. In September 2012 he was hired at Azzedine Alaïa where he worked as creative head of the footwear collection. In 2017 Samuele decides to launch his own luxury footwear brand with his clear and distinctive handwriting that creates contemporary and sexy shoes for the modern women.

All the photos from samuelefailli.com

RACINE CARRE'E

October 11, 2017 Stefano Casarola

The Neapolitan designer Viviana Vignola has grown up amongst the smell of the finest leathers and the most exclusive materials in the family tannery. She leaves her career in law to follow her instinct and create shoes that merge the highest quality and the most sophisticated techniques. Fascinated by their structure, as beautiful as architectural, the young designer creates shoes that can meet the needs of today’s women: travelers and multitasking. In short, beautiful, but above all comfortable shoes.

That’s why, her brand Racine Carrée, proposes to its customers quality of materials, a sophisticated mix of creativity and elegance, attention to details and a perfect ergonomic line even in the most sensual and daring models. Creations that talk about women, about their dreams and transmit values like sensuality, courage and boldness.

All photos from: racinecarree.it

SANAYI 313

June 28, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Sanayi 313 is an uncoventional concept store in Istanbul. A former garage of an industrial zone has been trasformed into a large two-floor gallery, boutique, studio, restaurant, where it is possible to live a multisensorial experience.

Enis Karavil: creative director and co-founder.

The founders of this unique space are the Karavil brothers: Enis and Amir. They both study economics at Bentley University in Massachusetts. While Amir plays an important role in the family business of automotive and construction chemicals, Enis decides to follow his dream of becoming an interior designer and takes a degree at the Inchbald School of Design in London. Putting together their own expertise, they open this lifestyle store where different disciplines are combined: art, design and food.

Sanayi 313 Architects offers made to measure furniture, home accessories and includes a studio for designing residential or commercial spaces.

Serena Uziyel: brand director

Sanayi 313 Atelier is an expression of Serena Uziyel’s individual style and aesthetic. Serena has graduated at Parsons School of Design in New York and has studied shoemaking in Milan and Florence. Her fashion collections offer an exquisite range of artisanal shoes and bags made by expert craftsman who can take up to 36 hours to create a single piece.

Sanayi 313 Kitchen, run by chef Müge Ergül, serves breakfast and lunch while dinner times is reserved for private parties only. Every day the patisserie serves customers special recipes that are constantly updated, while the lunch offers a modern cuisine with an healthy menu.

Sanayi 313 blog site is written and edited by Sidni Karavil; it contains the most up to date news about the different disciplines of Architecture, Design and Kitchen.

All the photos are taken from: www.sanayi313.com.

CASTANER SINCE 1927

June 14, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Castaner was founded un 1927 by two cousins: Luis Castaner and Tomas Serra. They immediately focused on quality creating one of the most iconic shoes: the espadrillas, a popular form of footwear with interlaced natural rope sole that has become a classic of everyone’s summer wardrobe. When family member Lorenzo Castaner and his wife took over the company in 1960, they decided to turn the espadrillas into a more sophisticated product closely associated with design and fashion. They adopted new styles and a multitude of colors and materials. Then in 1970, the chance meeting between Isabel Castaner and Yves Saint Laurent. Together they created the world’s first platform espadrille sandal called: the Campesina. And this was the beginning of collaborations with dozens of other major brands, including Hermes. Today, after 90 years, Castaner shoes, which are sold in over 50 countries around the world, remain authentic as they were in 1927: they continue to be wholly produced in Spain using the same hand-crafting techniques. And the soles are sewn with the same machine Luis Castaner and Serra designed in the 1920s.

From Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe to nowadays trendsetter models like Alex Chung or Jeanne Damas Castaner shoes have always been worn and appreciated by celebs. Flat or wedge, they remain a must have of summer fashion.

All the photos are taken from: castaner.com. Castaner is one of the brands proposed by Domizioli Boutique.

PELLICO

May 17, 2017 Stefano Casarola

PELLICO is a shoes manufacturer headquartered near Venice, Italy. The company was established in 1963 as a studio for shoe design and developed as PELLICO s.r.l. in 1980.
Today, collections are created by Luca Pampagnin, designer and director of the brand. Combining desing, creativity and technique, he tries to realize what the customers want to wear anticipating the new trends.
With a long tradition of style, Pellico shoes are manufactured using the finest qualities and craftsmanship for and elegant and sophisticated result.

Photos taken from: pellico.net

MINNA PARIKKA

May 3, 2017 Stefano Casarola

“My designs are like love letters from one shoe lover to another. Life is too short to take style too seriously.”

Minna Parikka while working on her designs. From: minnaparikka.com

Minna chose the world of shoe design at the age of 15. She moved to England at 19 to pursue a degree in footwear design, spending the next six years living, working and finding inspiration in London, Milan and Barcelona. In 2005 she returned to her native Helsinki. Here she launched the Minna Parikka brand and in November 2012 she opened her first shop. Minna’s love of footwear is based on the fact that shoes – unlike clothes – don’t have to be inhabited by a body in order to look attractive. When they’re beautiful in their own right, and then a woman steps into them – that’s when the magic happens. The right shoes can change how she looks, feels and is seen by others. Minna’s shoes are crafted in Spain with unparalleled attention to detail. The signature MP look and feel is achieved by using only the finest Italian and Spanish leathers and all the components from sole to shoe lace come from the best suppliers in Europe. Currently her designs are sold in 25 different countries globally in some of the best fashion retailers, such as Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty London, Luisa Via Roma, Le Bon Marché, La Rinascente, Harvey Nichols and Isetan.

Oscar Tiye

April 19, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Behind the name "Oscar Tiye" hides a really famale woman: the designer Amina Muaddi. In 2013, when she started her project, she decided the name after having seen a jewel that the pharaoh gave to the Queen Tiye of ancient Egypt as a wedding gift. Then Oscar is a combination of the names of her grandparents. The logo, which is put on every sole, is a beetle with open wings, a sacred good-luck symbol in the Middle Est.
Amina has Jordanian-Romanian roots. Her base is in Milan, where she studied Fashion Communication at the European Institute of Design. Her collections are totally made in Italy, in the Riviera del Brenta. They are inspired by her Middle Eastern roots and express her femininity, fun and self-confidence.

Photos taken from: oscartiye.com

Gray Matters

April 5, 2017 Stefano Casarola

Gray Matters shoes are like sculptural pieces. They have a unique look becoming like objects to show and win the challenge of being an all day long accessorie. The collection is soshisticated and add contemporary codes to a classic silhouette. Designer Silvia Avanzi inspiration comes by the artistic heritage of her native country Italy and by the hectic lifestyle of her adoptive city New York. Gray Matters is made by three generations of expert shoemakers near Venice in Italy.

All the photos are taken from: www.graymattersnyc.com