Blog — Stefano Casarola

Nicolò Beretta was born in Milan. At 14 years old, Nicolò moved to Sydney, Australia to pursue the business objectives of his family. Sydney’s cosmopolitan ambiance and its fervent multicultural communities provided Nicolò with experiences that influenced and forever changed the once young Milanese boy who drew his creative inspiration from this special capital.

In 2011 Nicolò presented his artistic ideas to Manolo Blahnik and Franca Sozzani, some of the fashion world’s most prominent figures. He received positive feedback and encouragement that validated what he once considered to be only a simple dream. With this reinforcement, Nicolò debuted as a tenacious entrepreneur who established Giannico in 2013, registering his brand internationally and choosing to produce his first collection of shoes specifically in Italy. This allowed Nicolò to showcase his first Fall/Winter 2013-2014 collection at the fashion weeks in both Milan and Paris. The collection provoked great interest in important fashion personalities and international buyers. Since then, high society ladies from all over the world have worn his creations on Hollywood’s red carpets.

In 2014 he won the ‘Who is on Next?’ contest in Rome juried by established individuals such as Franca Sozzani, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Suzy Menkes, Miroslava Duma, Alexander Fury, Laura Lusardi, Bergorf Goodman’s Paola Alvear and Sacks Fifth Avenue’s Colleen Sherin.

All photos taken from: giannicoofficial.com

Born in Puglia, south of Italy in 1974, Russo honed his skills in Milano, first at Costume National, where he worked on the shoes, bags and accessories lines, then at Miu Miu, where he served as shoe designer under the creative direction of Fabio Zambernardi between 1998 and 2000. In 2000 Russo moved to Paris, where he still lives, to work for YSL. Working alongside both Tom Ford and Stefano Pilati, Russo contributed to the global success of the brand, creating for it, a bunch of must have items. Then, in 2008 he was named creative director at Sergio Rossi. In September 2013 Russo launched his eponymous label. Russo follows an idea of shoes that are both architectural object and seduction tools.
With his refined taste he mixes precise lines, flamboyant invention and sex-appeal into creations that have a deep evocative power. He now skips the idea of the collection, as well as that of the succession of seasons, to create objects that celebrate beauty, all fully bespoke and, therefore, unique.

Photos taken from: francesorusso.fr