Sergio Rossi is an Italian women's footwear company that also produces handbags and other accessories. The brand is known for its craftsmanship and feminine designs. The Sergio Rossi label was owned by the French group Kering until it was sold to Italian buyout firm Investindustrial in December 2015.
History
Founding
was born in 1935 in the town of San Mauro Pascoli, in the Romagna region of Italy. He inherited from his father, a shoemaker, the tools and the traditions of an artisan. Rossi built his factory in San Mauro Pascoli in 1951, In the early years, he worked through the winter making sandals that he would later sell on the beaches of Rimini and to boutiques in Bologna. One such model, the Opanca was one of the most popular. After a couple of years, the first shoes bearing the Sergio Rossi signature were produced, marking the first official collection. According to Vogue, during the 1960s, the company, “quickly became synonymous with Italian quality and classic feminine designs.” Rossi died on 3 April 2020, of complications from COVID-19.
Company development
Sergio Rossi shoes became known for their use of geometrics and color. The brand grew in popularity in the 1970s and beyond, through collaborations with fashion designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Azzedine Alaïa. Sergio Rossi shoes became a mainstay at the Milan fashion shows. In 1980, the brand began expanding, the first shop to bear his name opened in Ancona, and then shops opening in Turin, Florence, Rome, Brussels, New York City, Los Angeles, and London. The brand also opened a showroom in Milan in 1995. In 1999, PPR Luxury Division, formerly known as Gucci Group, bought a 70% stake in the company for approximately $96 million. 6 years later, in 2005, PPR bought the remaining 30%, taking full control of the brand. In 2015 the company was sold to Investindustrial, a private equity firm that also owned Aston Martin. Francesco Russo was the creative director between 2008 and 2013 when Angelo Ruggeri became the design director, holding the position until 2016. In 2016, Andrea Morante became company president, and Riccardo Sciutto CEO.
Design
Sergio Rossi shoes take a minimum of 120 different steps and 14 hours to create. The Wall Street Journal wrote of the process that, “building a shoe involves high-pressure nail guns, screws, heat-dried glues, sanding, painting, buffing, chiseling, and plenty of loud machinery. Leather and other materials are stretched around the lasts, then nailed, glued and molded in layers.” In 2009, in a move to demonstrate that luxury goods and fashion can be combined with sustainability, Sergio Rossi launched the Eco Pump, a biodegradable fashion shoe made using liquid wood in the heel and sole, and leather uppers tanned using eco sensitive tanners. In 2015, Sergio Rossi partnered with Eco-Age to develop a Green Carpet Collection of environmentally sustainable wear designs. Sergio Rossi also produces leather handbags, and in 2012 it launched its bridal collection of shoes.
Campaigns
Sergio Rossi's early advertising campaigns were inspired by the work of Helmut Newton, using low-angled shots to highlight the length of the legs and body, and focusing on the height and shape of the heel. In 2012, the company released a short-film, Skin to Skin, in collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino.
