Sergio Rossi

Sergio Rossi is an Italian fashion brand which focuses on footwear. Founded in Italy in 1951, the brand was acquired by the Gucci Group in 1999. It then became part of the Kering Group under François Pinault, from 2005 until 2016, when Investindustrial fully acquired the brand. In June 2021, Fosun Fashion Group (FFG) announced that it had come to an agreement to acquire Sergio Rossi. Ownership was then transferred to the Lanvin Group in October 2021.

History

Founded in 1951 in San Mauro Pascoli, the brand takes its name from Founder Sergio Rossi, who inherited the tools and traditions of shoemaking from his father. At first, Rossi worked through the winter making sandals that he would later sell on the beaches of Rimini and in boutiques in Bologna. One such model, the Opanca, became very popular: it was a simple design in which the sole curved gently around the foot, forming a whole with the upper part of the shoe. In the 1968, the first shoes bearing the Sergio Rossi signature were produced, marking the first official collection. According to Vogue, during the 1960s, the company “rapidly became synonymous with Italian quality and classic feminine designs”.

Business development

Sergio Rossi shoes soon became famous for the particular use of geometric patterns and color. The brand became popular in the 1970s thanks to collaborations with well-known designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Azzedine Alaïa. In 1980 the expansion process began in Italy and abroad, with the opening of the first single-brand boutiques in Ancona and then Turin, Florence, Rome, Brussels, New York, Los Angeles, and London. In 1999, the PPR Luxury Division, known as Gucci Group, acquired 70% of the shares of Sergio Rossi for a value of approximately 96 million dollars. Six years later, the group that became Kering bought the remaining 30%, obtaining the full control of the Sergio Rossi brand. In 2015 the company was sold to the Investindustrial holding and Riccardo Sciutto has been appointed CEO with the aim of restoring the historic footwear brand to its authentic DNA. The strategy: go back to the origins in order to grow. In June 2021 Fosun Fashion Group (FFG) announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Sergio Rossi S.p.A.

Design and Know-How

Sergio Rossi considered shoemaking a continuous reflection on form, harmony and elegance, the main principles which still guide the brand and which are expressed in the handmade creations created by skilled craftsmen. A perfect pair of Sergio Rossi shoes requires a minimum of 120 different processes to be made.

San Mauro production plant

The San Mauro production plant, which was inaugurated in 2003, today counts a total of : of production and warehouse area and a building housing the offices, the pattern and prototype departments. San Mauro's industrial platform can develop, industrialize and produce all types of women's and men's luxury footwear, from flat styles to high heels. Sergio Rossi S.p.A. thanks to its factory, it is able to produce on behalf of third parties, dealing entirely with the creation and distribution of other brands. Today the company produces, among others, also for Amina Muaddi.

Sustainability

Sergio Rossi sets sustainability goals that are established in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Initiative, of which Sergio Rossi is a member. In 2020, 100% of all electricity used for the brand's factory, offices and shops was produced from renewable sources. However, Good on You, a sustainability rating service rated the company "not good enough" as they don't use sustainable materials." Its environment rating is 'not good enough'. It does not use eco-friendly materials. It uses renewable energy in its direct operations to reduce its climate impact but not its supply chain. There is no evidence it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals."

Testimonials

Sergio Rossi shoes have always been very popular on the red carpet and many celebrities have worn them, including Eva Longoria, Sharon Stone, Diane Kruger, Ludivine Sagnier, Anne Hathaway, Karolína Kurková, Amanda Seyfried, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Naomi Campbell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vanessa Hudgens, Halle Barry, Eva Herzigová, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Lupita Nyong'o, Emmy Rossum, Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Nazha, Lizzo, Rita Ora and Janice Man.

Sergio Rossi's shoes have been featured in the following works:

* Anita Ekberg wears a pair of Sergio Rossi in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, 1959
* Beyoncé wears a pair of gladiator boots in her music video “Run The World” (Girls), 2011
* Silvana Mangano wears a pair of Sergio Rossi in the film “Gruppo di famiglia in un interno” by Luchino Visconti, 1974
* Pedro Almodóvar's High Heels movie poster shows a pair of Sergio Rossi shoes
* The Cachet model is worn by Madonna in her video clip “Give Me All Your Luvin”
* Blair Waldorf wears a pair of Sergio Rossi in Gossip Girl TV series

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 2011, the company opened a shop dedicated to men's shoes in Milan in collaboration with Wallpaper* magazine, designed by architect Antonino Cardillo. In 2012, the company released a short-film, ''Skin to Skin'', in collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino.

References

External links

Official website

{{Authority control

Luxury brands
Clothing companies established in 1951
High fashion brands
Italian companies established in 1951
Clothing brands of Italy
Shoe companies of Italy
Shoe brands
Leather manufacturers
Fashion accessory brands
Bags (fashion)
Companies based in the Province of Forlì-Cesena