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Friday, July 3, 2009

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International Designer Spotlight: Salvatore Ferragamo Throughout history inspiring stories have been told of overcoming obstacles and the strength of the human spirit. These stories exist at the core of the glamorous fashion industry as well. Strip away the red carpets and flashing lights, before the fifth avenue flagship boutiques and celebrity followings, many designers struggle to break through for the love of fashion. The Ferragamo legacy is one such story. Widowed at age 38, Wanda Ferragamo was left with six children to raise alone with no formal work experience. A housewife since marrying Salvatore Ferragamo at age 18, Wanda knew nothing of the shoe business he had built. After 15 days of mourning his death she bravely resolved to honor him by continuing with his dream. Wanda Ferragamo, Honorary Chairman of the House of Ferragamo was an honoree and keynote speaker at my University graduation. I still remember her tearing up a little when she spoke of her husband and taking over the business when he passed away in 1960. Theirs was a true love story, marrying only three months after their initial meeting. Wanda Ferragamo stated she continued the business out of love for her husband and his love was crafting shoes. Salvatore made his first pair of shoes at age 9 which were worn by his sisters at their confirmation. Ever since then his passion was to craft the most comfortable and beautiful shoes his clients had ever worn. Before his death he had been known as 'shoemaker of the stars' with clients including the who's who of old Hollywood such as Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo and Andy Warhol. Today the Ferragamo Group is a power player in the international luxury goods arena. With a product line including luxury shoes, bags, eyewear, silk accessories, watches, perfumes and a ready-to-wear clothing line, Wanda Ferragamo along with her six children – all of whom have worked for the company, have catapulted the once specialized shoe company into a luxury powerhouse. The Ferragamo brand can be credited with innovating many of the modern day shoe styles still popular today. In 1937 Salvatore was granted the first patent in fashion history for a cork wedge heel. In 1938 he created the first wedge heel - a fabulous gold ankle-strap platform sandal with colorful wedge heel for Judy Garland. Other styles such as the 'invisible' sandal, the 18-carat gold sandal, and the caged heel – which is a current hot trend - were all introduced by Ferragamo. Even before Tory Burch ballet flats, mature shoe mavens scrambled for the Ferragamo 'Vara' patent ballet pump, the brand's most famous shoe, which was introduced by his eldest daughter in 1978. Shoe production is at the core of the Ferragamo business. The aim is to provide comfort and elegance in a shoe that is well constructed, elegant and timeless as Salvatore did when he was alive. If you're looking for a classic shoe from a luxury brand that will never go out of fashion, Ferragamo is for you. Steeped in history the company has weathered many storms, the most difficult being the death of Salvatore, and bounced back as a classic favorite of celebrities, socialites and fashionistas alike. To keep your shoe treasure in tip top shape below is the Golden Rules for Shoe Care as stated by Ferragamo. Monday, June 30, 2009