Rossimoda is one of the most important shoe factories of the Riviera del Brenta district in Italy. The shoes produced by Rossimoda footwear factory always combine high quality craft, technology, precious materials and design. Moreover shoes production testifies the evolution of style and fashion.
History
1947
Narciso Rossi starts to produce shoes by himself.
1956
Rossimoda shoe factory was led, since 1956, by the son of Narciso Rossi, Luigino, helped by the brothers Dino and Diego. After a beginning characterized by an artisan production, Luigino Rossi had the opportunity to spread thank to Charles Jourdan, who held the licence for the production of Christian Dior shoes. This particular occasion encouraged the future success of Rossimoda.
1961
Luigino Rossi and other entrepreneurs joined their forces and founded the A.C.Ri.B association (Consorzio Maestri Calzaturieri del Brenta). The aim of the Association was, as it’s today, to represent the shoemakers of Venice and Padua.
1963
Luigino Rossi signes his first licence agreement with the young Yves Saint Laurent, out of Dior atelier and at the start of his illustrious adventure. The profitable collaboration between Rossimoda and the French brand lasted for 38 years, from 1963 to 2000.
2003
LVMH group acquires both Rossimoda factory and Villa Foscarini Rossi. The financial group has embraced the responsability to go on with the cultural and business mission started by Luigino Rossi. He is now honorary chairman of Rossimoda and is still playing an active role in the promotion of the district and the dissemination of the ancient shoemaking craft.
Shoemaking Process
Creative Process
Through the creative research, the shoe factory has to deal with the complex relation with the houses, balancing different needs and demands, among which: the artist’s creative effort, which has to be free from encumbrances; the economically competitive industrial feasibility; the product saleability. The end product, indeed, must be wearable, manufacturable and attractive for the market.
The Designer’s Department
The designer department is resposable for the product development. The departement has to deal with the brand’ directions, the fashion trends and the materials.
The last is a foundamental tool in shoemaking, as the shape of the foot is transposed on it. The design of the item can be reproduced on the last, whose toe can be adapted on the basis of the type of shoe.
The Technological Development
Informatics and new technologies, such as graphic and design software, are now part and parcel of shoemaking.
Material Research
To obtain a high quality product, materials have to be chosen and tested very carefully. For instance, prestigious leathers have to be at the same time flexible and compact; furthermore, they must show their own characteristics.
The Cut
The cut is a very important step of shoemaking, even though complex. In particular, when leathers are handled, the cut can be a very delicate process since it deals with the natural imperfections of the material and its different physical proprieties.
The Stitching
During the stitching the pieces of the upper are sewn and assembled together.
The Lasting
Through this step, the different parts of the shoe (the upper, the insole, the bottom stock and the heel) are eventually set up. Symmetry and wearability need to be always taken into consideration during the assembly.
The Finishing
The finishing is extremely important in high quality shoemaking. Depending on the type of footwear, the finishing is made up of different phases such as, for example, the cleaning and the polishing of leather.
The Packing
Finally, shoes are carefully wrapped with tissue paper and packed.
Footwear Museum of Villa Foscarini Rossi
The Rossimoda museum of footwear is located in the main villa of the seventeenth-century architectural complex Villa Foscarini Rossi in Stra along the Riviera del Brenta in the province of Venice. The museum deals with footwear and costume history and collects a collection of over 1700 models of luxury women’s shoes, produced by the shoe factory of the same name in collaboration with high fashion houses.
The museum is one of the few Italian museums dedicated to footwear. It is reviewed in the repertoires of corporate museums and considered relevant in its specificity .
It preserves more than 1700 models, the majority of which testify to the company’s collaboration with stylists from all over the world. .
Prototypes of the company’s collaborations with international fashion houses, from Dior to Yves Saint Laurent, from Givenchy to Ungaro, to Fendi, Christian Lacroix, Pucci, Calvin Klein, Porsche and others. Pieces representative of the company’s history, the historical period and the social context or because they are remarkable from a technical and artisan point of view are exhibited.
The minimalism of American designers such as Donna Karan, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Porsche is represented on the ground floor, while the products of Mediterranean designers such as Emilio Pucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Dior, Roger Vivier, Fendi, Lacroix are visible on the upper floor., Céline and Kenzo, having more space given the longevity of their collaborations with the company.
To the footwear models are added prints, sketches and sculptures from the private art collection of Luigino Rossi: the original sketches by Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld, the reproductions of the prints by Andy Warhol, and the cartes de vœux by Yves Saint Laurent.