Salvatore Ferragamo

Salvatore Ferragamo, the story of a man

It was in 1914, at the start of the war, that the history of the Salvatore Ferragamo brand truly began. Indeed, Salvatore Ferragamo was barely 16 years old when he was forced to emigrate from southern Italy to Boston. Later, he decided to move to California, where he insisted that his brothers join him. There, they embarked together on the world of custom-made shoemaking. Highly original, he began in 1924 by crafting a sort of oriental mule with an upturned point shaped like Aladdin's lamp. Although the idea may seem unusual, Salvatore Ferragamo soon made a name for himself. He then returned to Florence in 1927 and decided to establish his company there. From then on, it took him barely five years to become one of the most important luxury icons in the world. Thus, although he had left Hollywood, Salvatore Ferragamo never truly strayed far from the glitz and glamour of cinema. The house can notably boast having shod the greatest stars in the world, such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper and Katharine Hepburn. Likewise, in 1938, Salvatore Ferragamo was the official supplier of the shoes for the film The Wizard of Oz, which further helped establish its reputation. Starting in 1948, Salvatore Ferragamo began opening stores in various regions of the world, such as on Fifth Avenue in New York. Its founder passed away a few years later, however, in 1960.

Salvatore Ferragamo today

Upon the founder's death, the Salvatore Ferragamo brand was taken over by his wife and children. From then on, the house developed this field of activity. It launched, in 1959, into women's ready-to-wear. Likewise, men's ready-to-wear was introduced to Salvatore Ferragamo's offerings in 1970. It was also during this period that the brand began building its reputation in Japan. It was not until 1989, however, that stores appeared there. In 1998, it was the turn of Salvatore Ferragamo eyewear to be launched, quickly followed by a fragrance in 2001. Today, Salvatore Ferragamo also offers a range of watches. Salvatore Ferragamo's renown is such that the house has had its own museum in Florence since 1995. The world's greatest brands compete for their collections. Salvatore Ferragamo walks the world's biggest runways. The house is now present in more than 90 countries worldwide and 600 points of sale. One man's dream has now become a true giant of luxury.