The Journey To Italy
Now that I had defined the goals, it was time to start in earnest if I wanted to make my shoes a reality.
Finding A Name
Whenever I work on a bigger project, I always need a name first. As this project would encompass so much of who I am and what I want to bring to the world, it was even more important. Again, I wanted a name that screams ‘shoes’ and ‘luxury’.
For days, I jotted down ideas, but in the end, I came up with Stilettissimo. If you are interested in the meaning and the idea behind it, please refer to this article I wrote some time ago.
Doing Research
All my studies about materials and design were obviously fruitless unless I found a manufacturer. As Stilettissimo would be a Swiss brand, I started in my home country.
Alas, there is no shoe factory in Switzerland anymore that produces collections. The remaining ones do ‘made to measure’, which means they create individual lasts for every customer and individual shoes.
ITALY
Therefore, I turned to Italy, well-known for its mastery in shoemaking and Switzerland’s direct neighbour, which would make collaboration easier.
My research quickly revealed that the best shoes are made in the Marche region (highlighted in red) which is by the Adriatic Sea.
So, I started compiling an address list and writing my inquiry e-mails.
LIMITED EDITION SHOESThe Biggest Surprise
When I opened my e-mail the next morning, I had 35 (no joke) answers in my inbox. To say that I was overwhelmed would be an understatement.
I began working my way through all the offers to understand what each company specialises in. All of the offers were valid options, which made the task quite difficult. I prioritised the ones that created shoes that corresponded to my idea and asked the respective offerors more questions.
Meeting the Manufacturers
In the end, there were two manufacturers left. I made appointments with both of them which I coordinated on two consecutive days.
I packed my suitcase, booked a hotel, fuelled my car, and drove south. The journey takes between 8 and 9 hours, but it seemed the easiest option. I later tested other options involving air travel combined with a rental car or taking a direct train to Milan and renting a car there. However, each of these alternatives is less flexible and more cumbersome. So, I am back to driving, which, by the way, I greatly enjoy.
Family Businesses: Traditional, Yet Modern
Most shoe manufacturers in the Marche region are family businesses that have been in the trade for generations. So are the ones I visited. They are accustomed to working with foreigners and have translators at hand. I am truly grateful for this, as I my Italian is far too weak to express my thoughts as detailed as it is necessary to create shoes.
They may be family businesses, but don’t think that they are behind the times when it comes to the latest trends, modern materials, or techniques. I can assure you that the ones we work with are at the forefront of luxury.
Italians are very friendly people with a great sense for hospitality. They also showed me around the factory, explained to me how things are done etc.
ONE LOOK AT THE SAMPLE MODELS, THE MATERIALS, THE CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND I WAS ON FIRE, AS I ALMOST INSTANTLY COULD SEE THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.
Brigitte Kobi | Stilettissimo
This fire still burns and it drives me to create more models, find even better materials, create additional services.
WE ARE YOUR SHOES
Next time, we speak about Craftsmanship and Comfort.
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