They are the object of desire worldwide. Made in Italy footwear is one of the jewels in the crown of the Italian economy and fashion system. Over the course of time, Italy has developed a number of districts specialised in this production, ones that are renowned and in demand internationally for their very high quality. Suffice it to say that, according to the data released by the World Footwear 2021 Yearbook (an annual report offering an overview of the world footwear sector), in 2020 Italy was the leading footwear producer in Europe and thirteenth in terms of the number of pairs manufactured in the world.
Made in Italy footwear production districts: which are they?
From luxurious jewelled sandals to sneakers, from men’s fine footwear to eye-catching models on the catwalks, Italian footwear is produced in seven districts of excellence, located mainly in Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, Campania and Puglia. The Italian shoe production areas are all united by a common thread that runs through the entire country: high quality, guaranteed by artisanship, and a supply chain system where all the players involved in making the product are concentrated in the same area, including companies producing small metal parts, heels, soles, and much more.
Marche and Veneto, between men’s footwear and designer labels
One example is the district in the Marche: the Fermano-Maceratese area counts a concentration of numerous footwear companies specialising in one or more phases of a production process. The area, a point of reference for the production of Made in Italy footwear encompasses three districts, differentiated by product type: the one in Montegranaro (FM), an area of excellent men’s footwear, the one between Civitanova Marche (MC), Sant’Elpidio a Mare (FM) and Porto Sant’Elpidio (FM) for women’s footwear, and the one in Monte Urano (FM) for children’s footwear.
The heart of Veneto production is the Riviera del Brenta, located between the provinces of Padua and Venice. The area is home to a large number of artisan companies, but also to famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Bottega Veneta, without forgetting the “nationals” such as Ballin and René Caovilla. The territorial focus is on luxury women’s footwear. The Montebelluna Sportsystem, on the other hand, is a world leader in technical sports footwear.
Emilia and Lombardy: the heart of Made in Italy footwear
Casadei’s slim heels, Zanotti’s design, Sergio Rossi’s pumps, which require 120 phases and 14 hours of work. And then there are the creations by Pollini, Baldinini, and Gianvito Rossi. Quality, creativity, and style are not lacking in Emilia Romagna. The epicentre is the district of San Mauro Pascoli (FC), the “shoemakers’ town”, where companies covering the entire production chain are located. Here, the creativity and technological and design development of the companies have given origin to strong brands that are 100% Made in Italy.
Lombardy is home to another of Italy’s most important footwear districts, split between the areas of Vigevano, in the province of Pavia, and Parabiago in the province of Milan. The area could be promoted to a true pilgrimage destination: Manolo Blahnik, Christian Loubutin, and Jimmy Choo icon shoes are made here. The area is also famous for manufacturing machinery for the Italian and foreign shoe industries.
Puglia and Tuscany: from top-level sneakers to luxury
The heel of Italy could not be left off the list. In Puglia, especially in the footwear manufacturing centre of Casarano (LE), the production of top-level sneakers paradoxically stands out. Salento is the birthplace of sports lines by Gucci, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana, for example. In Campania, an entrepreneurial fabric of semi-artisan businesses has developed in the provinces of Naples and Caserta. The footwear produced is of medium-high and very high quality.
In Tuscany, the Made in Italy footwear system runs parallel to that of leather goods. Artisans, subcontractors, and major brands all work together in a sector that focuses on the production of luxury or high quality footwear. Production is carried out between Florence and Arezzo, extending as far as the Valdinievole, and is renowned for the presence of major companies such as Gucci, Prada, and Ferragamo.
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