FERRAGAMO’S NEW SHOE DESIGN DIRECTOR BLENDS HIGH-TECH AND HIGH-CRAFT
Platform, wedge, metal arch–the brand’s inventions reconceived in Pre-Fall 2017 collection
Salvatore Ferragamo celebrates a new chapter with the debut of the Pre-Fall 2017 women’s footwear collection, the first created by Paul Andrew, the category’s new design director. In his first collection, Andrew puts on center stage founder Salvatore Ferragamo’s lifelong obsession with craftsmanship, innovation and fit. Architect, engineer and aesthete—the roles Ferragamo assumed in building his shoe empire—are as vital to the craft today as they were in 1927 at the brand’s founding. High-tech meets highcraft in a series of sharply punctuated groups, where Andrew harnesses state-of-theart technology and the savoirfaire of Italy’s finest artisans. Timeless Ferragamo icons and design gestures have been reimagined and recast, from the signature black and gold and a “column heel” from the late ’30s, to a reconceived “F” wedge and the new flat: a sneaker in neoprene or technical stretch rib knit.
Fit standards have been studied and adjusted to today’s global client mix, motivated by the belief that the success of design is measured not only in its visual evidence but also in its experience.
“My concept for the collec- tion was simply to highlight the fundamentals that made Salvatore such a profound and groundbreaking presence and to express those values through designs that are relevant to a new generation of strong, discerning women,” Andrew said.
“Salvatore Ferragamo had a history of daring and of revolution in shoes, legitimately setting trends with inventions such as the platform, the wedge and the metal arch,” said James Ferragamo, shoes and leather goods director.
“Paul’s revisiting of our archives and values with a focus on hightech and high-craft has ensured that our women’s shoes can remain ahead of their time combining cutting-edge design with comfort and grace.”
“This collection with Paul as our new designer underlines the focus we are putting on our core women’s shoe category,” said Eraldo Poletto, CEO.
“Shoes represent more than 40 percent of our sales and women’s shoes represent an important part of that total, while still offering disproportionate growth potential.”
Wedge heels inspired by the invisible shoe with an F-shaped wedge from the Ferragamo archive