Giuseppe Zanotti, precious footwear.
For over 20 years, the Italian fashion house Giuseppe Zanotti has been making flat sandals embellished with gems, and vertiginous high-heels boasting extremely fine stilettos. Today the brand is more of an all-rounder, with shoes available in collections for women, men and children, also creating bags, small leather goods and jewellery.
From an Italian village to the New York catwalk.
In his small village nestled not far from Rimini, the footwear capital, young Giuseppe Zanotti learned to love the smell of leather and nourished a dream - that one day he would create luxury shoes. Despite his talent, he found it hard finding someone who could translate his ideas into reality and ended up buying a workshop to make the shoes himself. When the sun went down, he also spun records as a DJ in fashionable nightclubs... It would prove an important chapter in his life, since his limitless creativity still draws on the worlds of music and design. Being a perfectionist, he would very happily call on the services of specialists in different fields - especially embroidery and jewellery, in order to create real works of art. Eventually, his innovating approach led him to New York, where in 1994 he launched his first collection of Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, using artisanal know-how to approach couture. Success came very quickly, and the Italian designer opened his first boutique in Milan, followed by numerous others in the world's capital cities.
As an extension of his jewelled shoes, in 2011 Giuseppe Zanotti unveiled a collection of necklaces, bracelets and feminine jewellery, as well as a line for men composed of hip-hop-inspired trainers, elegant moccasins and bikers' boots. In addition, the Italian brand has put its leather-working expertise to excellent use by offering luxury leather goods items in the form of handbags, purses and belts.
A complete outfit, starting with shoes.
With around one hundred shops throughout the world, the Giuseppe Zanotti fashion house can today boast of being worn by huge international stars like Kristen Stewart and Jessica Chastain. The Italian brand's aspiration to be able to create a complete look became reality in 2014 when it added a capsule ready-to-wear collection, with luxury leather sportswear models embellished with zips, buckles and metal chains. Wedding shoes have also been added to the collection, together with a made-to-order service. It was also in 2014, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, that the brand took inspiration from its founder's archives and unveiled a series based on the models that have made up its history.
With geometry, gems and baroque motifs, Giuseppe Zanotti footwear raises feet to the rank of works of art. The designer has created numerous iconic shoes, like the Cruel Summer sandals, which grace the feet and ankles with golden flames, or Tattoo sandals, a real second skin enhanced with a fine motif. As for flat sandals, the Jimi style express the psychedelic and bohemian spirit of the 60's.