Santoni

A family line that's deeply rooted in style, Santoni made the city shoe as chic as it is trendy. It all began in 1975 in Italy, when Andrea Santoni, son of a farmer-turned-bootmaker, and his wife Rosa deduced to dream up a pair of shoes for men that were as beautiful as they were comfortable. At first, the small business only made and sold shoes at its workshop. Andrea Santoni progressively extended the brand into womenswear and seduced the aficionados of luxury accessories. Today, Santoni is a reference in shoemaking and stands apart thanks to impeccable design, authentic craftsmanship, and lines for men and women that are as versatile as they are architectural. Today under the Creative Direction of Edmundo Castillo, each pair is a unique creation in and of itself. The Puerto-Rican designer marries his expertise in style and architecture, gained during his years studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design, in order to create artistic shoes with a spark of fantasy. Santoni's women's lines are glamorous and retro, its models designed down to the last detail in order to guarantee unbeatable comfort. As for men, a wide range of mocassins, derbies, and sneakers stand out thanks to their fine lines and cosmopolitan allure. At Santoni, a large portion of manufacturing is still done by hand. In fact, in 2005 the label even created a school, where artisans share their expertise in crafting and coloring with their apprentices. It's a concept that was dear to Andrea Santoni, who remains very involved in the business — so much so, in fact, that he can sometimes be found at the factory itself, verifying shoes as they leave the shop.