Gianvito Rossi’s Selah sandal.
He’s one of the most revered footwear designers in the world, but Gianvito Rossi almost walked away from shoes. Growing up as the son of Sergio Rossi in San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, he was smitten from an early age. “When I was four or five, I went down to the factory and the shoes were my toys,” says Rossi. “It’s always been natural to be involved with them.”
The Anwers sandal in Tabasco.
Learning firsthand the intricacies of design and complexities of production, Rossi helped his dad build the brand into a footwear powerhouse before they sold the company in 2005. “I found myself for the first time in my life without shoes,” he recalls. “I was thinking I would do something else, but I realized that’s my life. I couldn’t really understand how much it meant until I lost it.”
The lace Missy shootie.
Fortunately for well-heeled women everywhere, he launched his eponymous line shortly thereafter. Today, the elegant, edgy feminine designs are coveted on every continent and worn by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Gigi Hadid and Carine Roitfeld, who serves as an inspiration to the designer. “She’s super elegant, super sophisticated and chic, but at the same time, she’s modern,” he says.
The Ree bootie.
Devotees of Rossi’s signature aesthetic, built on a self-described pillar of elegance, modernity and femininity will find lots to love this Spring. Among some of our favorite looks are the Anwers sandal and Missy shootie.
To ensure optimal comfort and exquisite design, every shoe adheres to a rigorous craftsmanship in the brand’s San Mauro Pascoli factory where Rossi’s dad plays an advisory role.
The Halle sandal.
“When you talk about the quality and make of these shoes, it’s based in experience. There’s no college for it,” explains the designer. “My father has a unique experience and he’s very helpful.” Rossi’s celebrated precision—60 steps are followed to create and ensure perfection of a single classic pump—is what keeps the brand from expanding too rapidly. “I don’t want to have a huge network,” he says. “I’m really focused on quality. You cannot achieve quality in unlimited numbers.”
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