Women’s Shoes – Salvatore Ferragamo

The Salvatore Ferragamo fashion house is widely regarded as one of the best sellers of designer shoes in the world today. Ferragamo shoes stand on a par with even those from Jimmy Choo. Most people who follow the fashion world know this. But for those who don’t know, here’s a quick rundown on the brand. Salvatore Ferragamo, an Italian by birth, was born on June 5, 1898. He comes from a very large family of 13 siblings and is the founder of the brand. His passion for creating luxury shoes began when, at the age of nine, he made his first pair of shoes for his sister’s confirmation ceremony.

Women’s shoes

Seven years later, however, he moved to Hollywood, California, and got a taste of success. This genius opened a shoe shop in Hollywood, specialising in shoe repair and custom-made shoes. These bespoke shoes eventually gained popularity among the celebrities of the time, which eventually led him to create shoes for the movie business. He was so famous in this regard that at the time he was nicknamed ‘The Cobbler with the Stars’. However, being a perfectionist, Mr Ferragamo could not be completely satisfied with his products.

He found out why his designs, as glamorous as they were, hurt users’ feet. So he went to the University of Southern California to study human anatomy in an attempt to solve the problem. After a 13-year stay in the US, Ferragamo returned to his native Italy, where in Florence he continued his craft for some of the most powerful and influential women of the time. By the 1950s Ferragamo had more than 700 craftsmen working at the company, producing 350 pairs of handmade Ferragamo shoes a day.

During this period Salvador Ferragamo was considered a visionary in the fashion industry. Sadly, he passed away in 1960 at the age of 62, having already revolutionized the shoe industry with many innovations he incorporated into his designs. One of the most famous innovations is the wedge heel, which is essentially a type of women’s platform heel. Most women agree that the wedge heel is certainly more comfortable than conventional heels, and has been proven to provide better support for the arch of the foot.

Ferragamo’s other innovations concerned metal-reinforced heels. His other creations included glove bow shoes (created especially for Maharani of Kuch Behar), stocking shoes, sculpted heels, 18ct gold sandals and the ‘Cage’ heel. After Salvador Ferragamo’s death, the company passed into the hands of his widow Wanda, who expanded the company to include other women’s luxury goods (more good news for women).

Then Salvatore Ferragamo’s eldest daughter, Fiamma, continued her father’s creative legacy and made a significant contribution to the development of women’s footwear. One of her most successful creations was the iconic Vara pump, introduced in 1978. Featuring a low heel, rounded toe and distinctive grosgrain bow with a metal ornament, the design combined elegance with everyday practicality. The Vara became one of Ferragamo’s most recognisable shoe styles, with more than one million pairs sold since its introduction. Fiamma also played an important role in maintaining the company’s distinctive approach to craftsmanship and design after her father’s death. The Ferragamo family continued to preserve the founder’s heritage while developing the business into an internationally recognised luxury fashion house. Today, Ferragamo shoes are available across Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America through boutiques, selected retailers and official online stores. According to the company’s 2025 annual report, Ferragamo operated 358 directly managed stores worldwide at the end of that year, including 64 in Europe. Its international presence demonstrates how a family footwear business established in Florence developed into a global luxury brand while retaining its Italian heritage and commitment to quality.