Our kind of classic is designed to be worn. Born of simplicity but never plain. Designed to be loved and lived in.
Intentional Design
We choose to make it simple. Make it sincere. Make it matter. There is an art to that. The pursuit of our Italian heritage is the mirror we hold up to every shoe we create. We have a simple design ethos: the belief that timelessness is everything and intentional design means that art, form, sculpture, and purpose are considered in every sketch, heel shape, and material intimately selected for each style. The balance of quality and beauty in the creation of new classics is what drives us every day.
Creative Director Gionata Pagni
Today, creative visionary Gionata Pagni builds on this vision with each style and each story that unfolds through his creative lens. Taught the art of shoemaking by his artisan parents and perfecting his craft in Milan, from first sketch to every hand selected leather, Gionata’s shoes stand up and stand out both because of how they are designed and how they are made. Says Gionata, “I draw each shoe with the vision of the woman wearing it and the world she will wear it in. While I may create the shoe, it is the woman who wears it who creates the style. For me, the goal is very clear. I desire each woman to love the shoe as much as I love making shoes. It does not get simpler than that.” Our Founder, Franco Sarto
Our namesake designer, Franco Sarto, was a Venice cobbler from the age of 14, hand-lasting shoes with hammer and nail. He opened a design studio in his early twenties, where he created shoes featuring effortlessly elegant lines and sumptuous leathers combining the skill of a craftsman and the passion of an artist. In 1990, he brought the first of his many carefully considered collections to America. Perfectly constructed, each designed in his Venice studio, Franco set the standard with his understanding that the most timeless objects are at once artful and useful. 