Born in 1898 in Bonito, Italy, and the eleventh child in a family of fourteen, Salvatore Ferragamo emigrated to America in 1914 and became "shoemaker to the stars" in Hollywood during the twenties. After designing shoes for Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and even crafting Judy Garland's iconic red heels for The Wizard of Oz, he returned to Italy and founded his own house in 1927. The Palazzo Spini Feroni in Florence has been home to the company's flagship store and headquarters since 1938, and it’s also the location of the Ferragamo Museum, which contains over 13,000 models, including the legendary cage and wedge heels, as well as the invisible sandal. When Salvatore died in 1960, his widow took over and employed her six children to assist in the company's development, launching men's and women's ready-to-wear collections, in addition to eyewear, perfume, and accessories. Fall 2008 marked the debut of chief womenswear designer Cristina Ortiz, whose collections have so far garnered mixed reviews. Also in 2008, the Ferragamos hosted a three-day 80th-anniversary bash in Shanghai to celebrate the success of the brand, which is still family-owned and -operated and boasts more than 500 stores worldwide.

Status

Established

Clients

Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Hugh Jackman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, George Clooney

Other Product Lines

Eyewear, Fragrances, Handbags, Shoes, Underwear

Collaborations

Created Nicole Kidman's shoe wardrobe for Australia movie. (2008)

Owned By

Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A

Address

663 Fifth Ave.
New York, New York 10022
212-759-3822

Where To Buy

Salvatore Ferragamo , Barneys New York , Bloomingdales , Saks Fifth Avenue

Related Websites

• Salvatore Ferragamo (Official)
• Style.com: Salvatore Ferragamo (Media)
• Wikipedia: Salvatore Ferragamo (Other)