AN ITALIAN SYMBOL: FERRAGAMO IN FIVE FACTS

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The debut. Salvatore Ferragamo had an innate lovefors ho eshewasawa re of even during his childhood. Born in Bo nito( Avellino) in 1898, atthe age of 13 he opened his f irst store and shortly after emigrated to America towork in as ho efact or yin Boston.

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The American dream. In the early 1920s, he worked in California for the film industry. In 1923 he inaugurated the Hollywood Boot Shop which established him as a ‘shoemaker of the stars.’ Among his clients (and friends) there were Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, John Gilbert and Rudolph Valentino.

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Florence. When he returned to Italy in 1927 he opened the f irst Florentine laboratory, which f ailed shortly after due to the 1929 crash. But his creative talent was unstoppable and f ame was not long i n coming. Everyone i n the post-war period wanted Ferragamo shoes, which became a s ymbol of Italian genius i n the world.

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The heritage. At his death i n 1960, the f amily lead the company i nto the f uture, creating the women’s col lection (1965), the silk and accessories l ine, men’s clothing (1970) and i n the 2000s perfumes, eyewear and watches.

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Today. In 2011 Salvatore Ferragamo was l isted on the stock exchange. Today the creative direction of the Maison Fiorentina is entrusted to Guil laume Meil land for the men’s col lections and to Paul Andrew for the women’s line, which carry on the ref ined experimentation of the founder.

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