Alessandro Berluti Italian shoemaker Country: Italy

Biography of Alessandro Berluti

Alessandro Berluti, the Italian master shoemaker, was born during the reign of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, a time when Austria was devastated by war and Giuseppe Garibaldi was a victorious hero in Sicily. Florence, which was soon to be replaced as the capital of Italy by Rome, was the backdrop of Alessandro's childhood in Senigallia, a small town on the Adriatic Sea.

From a young age, Alessandro honed his skills in woodworking, gaining expertise in the craft. However, it was his exceptional ability to work with leather that brought him widespread recognition. Fascinated by an elderly cobbler who had once lived in Marseille, Alessandro made the decision to leave his native country and move to France in 1887. On his journey, he encountered a troupe of street performers and spent several years with them. He crafted shoes for the actors and their theatrical characters while also learning to play multiple musical instruments, performing in public.

Eventually, Berluti perfected not only his skills in creating high-quality footwear and leather accessories but also developed his musical talents. He arrived in Paris in 1895, where he established his own company, "Berluti," and practiced the art of shoemaking for ten years, specializing in bespoke models. The 1900 Paris Fair was a turning point in the Italian master's career, as he had the opportunity to expand his fame and involve his son Torello in the family business.

At the fair, Alessandro had encounters with some of his most renowned clients, including Elizabeth Arden. In 1993, the company "Berluti" became a part of the French conglomerate LVMH, with its current creative director being Olga Berluti, Torello's cousin.