Maison · Florence · Est. 1927
Ferragamo
The shoemaker to the stars — where the cage heel, the Vara bow and Italian innovation redefined elegance.
Origin
How the maison began.
Salvatore Ferragamo was born in 1898 in Bonito, a village in southern Italy with eleven siblings. He made his first pair of shoes at age nine for his sisters' confirmation. At sixteen he emigrated to the United States, opened a shoe repair shop in Boston, then moved to Hollywood where he became the shoemaker to the stars — designing for Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Greta Garbo. In 1927 he returned to Italy and established his workshop in Florence, bringing with him the technical innovations he had developed in California: the wedge heel, the cage heel, and the invisible sandal.
Atelier
The philosophy of the workshop.
Ferragamo's philosophy is rooted in what Salvatore called the 'perfect shoe' — a marriage of beauty, comfort, and anatomical precision. He studied anatomy at the University of Southern California to understand how the foot bears weight, and his innovations (the steel-shank arch support, the cork wedge, the metal cage heel) were all driven by engineering rather than ornament. Today's house maintains that balance: the Vara pump still features the same low heel and grosgrain bow that made it a 1970s classic; the Tramezza construction still requires 200 hand operations; and the Gancini bit, introduced in the 1960s, remains the house's most discreet identifier.
Signature Codes
What you are actually buying.
No. 01
The Vara Bow
Designed in 1978 by Salvatore's daughter Fiamma, the Vara is a low-heeled pump with a grosgrain bow and a gold-tone metal plaque bearing the house's name. It was conceived as a comfortable alternative to the stilettos dominating the era — a shoe that could be worn for twelve hours. The Vara and its ballerina variant, the Varina, have sold millions of pairs and remain the house's most democratic piece.
No. 02
The Cage Heel
Invented by Salvatore in the 1950s, the cage heel is a wedge constructed from curved metal or Perspex strips that create a lattice or cage effect under the arch. It is simultaneously structural and decorative — the strips bear the wearer's weight while creating a visual architecture that has been copied by every major house since. The original Ferragamo cage heels are museum pieces; the modern reissues use titanium and carbon fibre.
No. 03
The Tramezza Construction
The Tramezza is Ferragamo's highest level of shoemaking — a hand-welted construction that uses a thin leather layer (the 'tramezza') between the insole and the outsole to create a flexible, durable foundation. Each pair requires over 200 operations, 15 days of work, and is built around a hand-carved wooden last. It is the construction method used for the house's formal footwear and represents the continuation of Salvatore's anatomical research.
No. 04
The Gancini
The Gancini is a metal bit shaped like a horseshoe or double hook, introduced in the 1960s as a hardware detail on bags and shoes. It references the ironwork of Florence's medieval palazzos and functions as the house's most discreet logo. On the modern Gancini bag it appears as a clasp; on loafers as a plaque; on belts as the buckle. It is never large, never central, always precise.
Pillar
Anatomical Innovation
Salvatore studied foot anatomy at USC to engineer shoes that were beautiful and comfortable. The steel shank, the cork wedge, and the Tramezza construction are direct descendants of that research.
Pillar
Florentine Leather Heritage
The house's leather goods are produced in Florence using the same vegetable-tanned calf and hand-burnished finishing techniques that Salvatore imported from Hollywood in 1927.
Pillar
The Hollywood Lineage
From Marilyn Monroe's stilettos to Audrey Hepburn's flats, Ferragamo has dressed more Hollywood icons than any other Italian house. That red-carpet precision still informs every collection.
Shop the Maison
A short edit from the current floor.
Frequently Asked
What clients ask about Ferragamo.
Is Ferragamo at Palace of Roman authentic?+
Yes. Every piece is sourced through Ferragamo or its authorised European distribution partners, shipped with full traceability and tracked worldwide delivery.
What is the difference between the Vara and the Varina?+
The Vara is a low-heeled pump (roughly 3cm) with a grosgrain bow. The Varina is the same design converted into a flat ballerina. Both share the same metal plaque and bow proportions. Most clients own both.
How do Ferragamo shoes fit?+
Ferragamo shoes are typically true to size but cut on an elegant, slightly narrow last. The Vara and Varina are available in C (standard) and D (wide) widths. If you have a high instep, consider going up half a size in the loafers and lace-ups.
What is Tramezza construction?+
Tramezza is Ferragamo's hand-welted shoemaking method, using a leather layer between the insole and outsole for flexibility and durability. Each pair requires over 200 hand operations and 15 days of work. It is reserved for the house's formal footwear and represents its highest level of craft.
Where is Ferragamo made?+
Ferragamo's leather goods, ready-to-wear and footwear are produced in Italy, primarily in Florence and Tuscany. The Tramezza shoes are hand-welted in the house's own Florentine atelier.