How did you start working with your hands?
I studied pattern-making in school and then I started experimenting with fashion design. I did a bit of everything, not just clothes but also hats, jewellery, costumes and bags, always keeping my creations outside the rigid boundaries of fashion trends.
What led you to eventually become a shoemaker specifically?
Shoes have always been a great passion of mine and after meeting Rolando Segalin, who back then was very famous in Venice, I decided to focus only on this. I opened my workshop 26 years ago just next to Ponte di Rialto, right in the heart of Venice.
©Elena Bovo
What kind of shoes do you make?
Custom-made shoes for men and women, entirely handmade. I am known for my crazy designs but I also do simple shoes for people who, for example, have orthopaedic problems. I also keep a collection of ready-made shoes in various sizes for those who cannot wait, a custom-made shoe takes two to three months to be ready.
What must an elegant shoe look like for you?
There is no elegance without comfort. High heels and such lose all their elegance if the woman wearing them is not comfortable and cannot walk properly. Segalin taught me first of all to take care of the wellbeing of the foot, all the rest is secondary.