History of Shoe Making in Italy

What is it about Italian shoes that make them so superior to those made in other countries? Quite plainly, it’s the history. Italian shoemakers have been refining their technique for many, many centuries.

In order to fully appreciate a pair of fine Italian leather shoes, one must explore the history of shoe making in Italy. Fortunately, no one has to buy a plane ticket or scrounge up three quarters for the Trevi Fountain to learn a few facts about footwear. Here’s a quick breakdown of the essentials that will help illuminate the path from average Cordwainer (don't worry, we’ll get to that) to virtuoso.

In the Beginning

Shoemaking started in Italy as it did in all countries, in the village. Working by hand with readily available materials, a local craftsman – called a Cordwainer, not a cobbler, who is someone who repairs shoes – would produce footwear for the entire community, adapting them to fit children and adults, blacksmiths and cooks; whoever came calling. Materials were usually animal skins (in cold areas) and vegetation before the advent of leather tanning (which, like many great things, including Velcro, Penicillin and Viagra, was likely an accidental discovery). Since one man often created all the shoes for one village, he developed a great mastery in the field.

Essential Ingredients

While shoemakers everywhere were honing their techniques with regards to construction, it was the Italian Cordwainers that focused just as precisely on the materials being used. Most nations have cows (or pigs, ostriches or goats) that “produce” leather. But Italian leather is different; it is a thing of beauty. It is soft, supple and richly hued.

Italians have been working with leather for thousands of years, and their treatment processes result in a stunning diversity of products, all of the highest quality and mainly crafted by hand. This national fixation on excellence coupled with a millennium or two of artistry is what led to Italy's shoe making expertise. But, there was one other essential ingredient: the willingness and ability to adapt.

Reactive adaptation

Before the First World War, the Italian footwear industry was relatively unknown, except of course too Italians. It was thanks to some pioneers that Italian footwear prestige was finally gaining some visibility.

When World War II finally broke out and the world saw piece again, the international audience noticed the burgeoning Italian fashion scene. Italian shoe designers have adapted to changing (and growing) demands by devising completely new shapes and styles that buyers have never seen, and they have done so without sacrificing an ounce of quality. The era of casual and elegant footwear had arrived.

Italy is a leader in the global footwear industry, and it is due to their emphasis on quality from start to finish. Italians have spent thousands of years working to perfect shoe design and leather craftsmanship, while other countries have slipped onto the easy path of cheaper and faster manufacturing. Taking the path less traveled, from the point of view of shoe production, has consolidated Italy's title as a world leader in luxury footwear.