Spotlight
Salvatore Ferragamo re- affirms its commitment to waste reduction and environmental protection through Rainbow Future, its first ever sustainable shoe
Committed to helping preserve the environment, Salvatore Ferragamo launches its first-ever sustainable shoe
In the fashion industry, the concept of sustainability has graduated from mere buzzword status to concrete agenda as more and more brands come up with initiatives in support of waste reduction. Italian luxury goods company Salvatore Ferragamo, one of the most famous and beloved names in the industry, has cemented its commitment to make sustainability part of its corporate social responsibility strategies. In its sustainability plan, which was conceptualised in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promoted by the United Nations, the Salvatore Ferragamo Group laid out the targets that its initiatives are set to pursue over the next three years, one of which is environmental protection. In 2017, the Ferragamo group invested in projects that would reduce consumption in its facilities, effectively minimising the impact of its day-today operations on nature.
As a means of promoting its advocacy while staying true to the brand’s heritage, Salvatore Ferragamo presents Rainbow Future, a shoe design inspired by the principles of sustainability. The design takes its cues from the suede Rainbow sandal, which was created in 1938 for the actress Judy Garland. The shoe is composed of a hand-finished wooden platform, leather lining (finished with no carbon dioxide water emission or water consumption), and colourful organic crocheted cotton uppers
“It is in Ferragamo’s DNA to both preserve the past of Italian tradition and cultivate its future”
and sidings. Water glue, non-galvanised brass, and recycled sewing thread were utilised to stitch the pieces of Rainbow Future together. This limited-edition piece—only 100 were made—will come wrapped in biodegradable cotton bags and recyclable boxes. Each pair is accompanied by a certificate that details its special characteristics and unique history.
Rainbow Future is also a part of the prestigious Ferragamo’s Creations line, which reintroduces in limited numbered editions some of the brand’s most famous designs. All models in this collection are 100 per cent handmade using the original materials, and bear the label designed in 1930 by painter Lucio Venna. Salvatore Ferragamo’s goal is for Rainbow Future to become a carbon neutral shoe by obtaining the ISO 14067 certification, which will make it feasible to calculate emissions that are discharged while it is being made, appropriately compensating for it through reforestation programmes. In support of this is the company Treedom, which specialises in agro-forestry initiatives and in carbon dioxide compensation. 100 orange trees—each one a link to a pair of Rainbow Future shoes—will be planted in the countryside on the outskirts of Catania, Sicily. This represents a gift from Salvatore Ferragamo to the customer, who will be able to track the tree’s growth on Treedom’s website. Says Salvatore Ferragamo Group Chairman Ferrucio Ferragamo, “It is in Ferragamo’s DNA to both preserve the past of Italian tradition and cultivate its future. We have sustained this legacy by financing, on one hand, restorations of important works of art, like Neptune’s Fountain in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, and promoting, on the other, experimentation with sustainable materials, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to Made in Italy products and our respect for the innovative spirit of Salvatore Ferragamo’s founder.”