Giuseppe Zanotti

Giuseppe Zanotti

Born in a village nearby Rimini in Italy called San Mauro Pascoli – Giuseppe Zanotti is known for designing contemporary, cutting-edge and trendy shoes. His approach towards design is a synthesis of engineering and artistry, of profundity and frivolity. In his words, his styles are emotional, sexy and feminine.

The designer started his career in fashion in the 1980s, working first with local craftsmen and soon becoming a freelancer for fashion houses like Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Dior, Thierry Mugler, Ferré, and Valentino. Prior to becoming a great shoe designer, Zanotti was a Disc Jockey. In 1994, he had sufficient resources to take over a small shoe manufacturing company. At Vicini factory, he devoted his energy and time to designing and producing his own line of shoe-wear and eventually he became one of the most praised designers. Zanotti began entrepreneurship with a workshop of just fifteen employees moved on to maintaining a company of 350 professionally skilled workers manufacturing more than 480,000  pairs of luxury shoes for women. In 2000, Zanotti opened his first fashion store in Milan and then boutiques opened up in major cities of the world, such as London, Stockholm, New York, Moscow, Paris, Dubai and elsewhere. In addition to these accomplishments, he has designed shoes for brands, counting Thakoon Panichgul, Delfina Delettrez, Proenza Schouler, Vera Wang, Christopher Kane, and Pierre Balmain. The label, Giuseppe Zanotti, has expanded its operations into handbags, jewelry and sneakers. His collections include designs for fashionable men as well.

The effort he puts into his designs has not gone unnoticed or unrewarding, Zanotti has been awarded three times for being the Designer of the Year by Fairchild. Moreover, Marie Claire International presented him with Prix d’Excellence de la Mode for top footwear line.

Research and development constitutes to being the heart of Giuseppe Zanotti’s company and it is his unmistakable and exceptional shoe-making techniques that capture the hearts of both, the stars of this world as well as the common yet style-conscious women and men.

His designs are worn by several celebrities, including Astrid Munoz, Melissa Satta, Isabelle Funaro, Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman, Cameron Diaz, Alek Wek, Alicia Keys, Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, Sarah Marshall, Ashanti, Eva Herzigova, Naomi Campbell, Drew Barrymore, Mariah Carey, Elle McPherson, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and many more.

Once Luisa Via Roma, maker of a popular robot cum teddy bear asked Zanotti to design a personal interpretation of toys for a 2007 auction. The outcome was a super glamorous doll clothed in an evening dress holding Swarovski studded dolly shoes from Zanotti’s own collection. This is how much he is occupied with the love for shoes.

Moving on, Zanotti admires Kanye West in a brotherly way as well as appreciates the way West came forward to express himself in terms of fashion. The duo worked collaboratively on a pair of sandals studded with pearls and made with calfskin which sold for around six thousand dollars. In addition, they designed Cruel Summer sandals, inspired by G.O.O.D, a music album.

Other than the craze for designing and producing different styles of shoes with various connotations, like fun, sexy, elegant, casual etc; Zanotti is passionate about watches and surprisingly owns more than sixty of them.

Since the very start, Giuseppe Zanotti’s creations have maintained the same quality in fact better each year as technology becomes more advanced and as fashion keeps changing every season. His designs remain intact with his original inspirational sources, music and art.