FRANCO SARTO DESIGNS HIS SHOES WITH HEART, PASSION

May, 2011

San Diego Presidio Sentinel

By Laura Walcher

Franco Sarto appears at Nordstrom’s on a nearly-sunny Saturday morning, brimming with cheerfulness and bursting with energy.  It’s already easy to see the passion that accompanies his singular shoe designs.   The ladies have begun to browse  through his collections, so we whisk away quickly for a brief talk.

Mssr. Sarto is from Dolo, Italy, a small town outside of Venice.  As a young man, he moved to Stra - Italy’s shoe-design “center,” where he began his career, taking along technical expertise from his work as a teenage cobbler, and combining it with his passion for design, which has been called,  “One part sophistication and one part wit.”

Unlike shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who says, he “hates the whole concept of comfort!,” comfort for Sarto is foremost in his footwear designs  - and for that, we women are grateful. 

We talked: 

LW: My daughter, Jean  - a very savvy shopper -  says Franco Sarto shoes are  a perfect combination of style, comfort and price! How do you balance all of those elements so successfully?

FS:. Experience! Where I grew up, we had a culture ... we walked, walked, walked!  It’s not surprising that the region is famous for shoes!  And, starting so young -  14 years old! - to work as a shoe cobbler, gave me an understanding of the kind of construction women need for

comfort - and beauty. 

LW.  What kind of woman do you design for? Who is she in your mind's eye?

FS: She’s normally a young woman - probably a teen - and she’s a woman of about 50; then, every woman in - between.  So many of my shoes are ones that both the daughter and her mother can enjoy.

LW:  A friend of mine who skews older than that demographic, recently bought your retro leather wedge, the one with a leather knot,  in black, navy, white, and gold! 

FS:  That’s a wonderful woman, young at heart, in spirit, in fashion!

LW:  What are the trends you see on the horizon; If you could offer only one piece of fashion advice for this spring/summer, what would it be?

FS:  The platform and the wedge will be most important!

We plan more fabric, and patterns.  Our materials can be stone washed; they’ll stay fresh and beautiful.  Heels are certainly important.  We stay to 30-60 centimeters in our line.  Essentially, my Spring designs are centered around two major directions: easy elegance and urban vintage.    Yet, having said all that, comfort is still paramount.

LW:  Are there particular styles you intend to showcase:

FS:  I have four favorites:  Our ‘New Twist’ sandal with a braided leather detail, in ‘gladiator’ style;  a style inspired by 1970’s, one called ‘Tangerine Dream,’ - they’re bohemian chic! For pure classic, our ‘New Neutral’ ivory sandal, with a very casual canvas wedge, is ‘basic’ and versatile.  We  call it ‘Natural Heights.’

LW:  What inspires you? Does your family help?

FS:  Ah, everything around us! I don’t know about my family - my daughter, who is in her 30’s, wears the shoes

that I bring home! I am drawn to the easygoing and elegant style of women  in the chic European resorts on the Italian coasts and the South of France—Capri, Milano Marittima, St. Tropez, Nices and Cannes...  Yet cosmopolitan capitals like New York, London and Milan,  also inspire me to design for the urban woman.   

LW:  Howard Chenfeld, my brother-in-law, was a shoe buyer, and whenever we were out, his attention was always riveted by women’s feet - and the shoes they were wearing!

FS:  Ohh!  It’s like a disease!  I go instantly - from face -  to shoes!  Here’s how it goes:  Shoes.  Hairstyle.  Purse.  That’s it!  ###

                   

                 

                   

Company Information

         May, 2011

603

FRANCO SARTO DESIGNS HIS SHOES WITH HEART, PASSION

By Laura Walcher

Franco Sarto appears at Nordstrom’s on a nearly-sunny Saturday morning, brimming with cheerfulness and bursting with energy.  It’s already easy to see the passion that acoompanies his singular shoe designs.   The ladies have begun to browse  through his collections, so we whisk away quickly for a brief talk.

   Mssr. Sarto is from Dolo, Italy, a small town outside of Venice.  As a young man, he moved to Stra - Italy’s

shoe-design “center,” where he began his career, taking along technical expertise from his work as a teenage cobbler, and combining it with his passion for design, which has been called,  “One part sophistication and one part wit.”

   Unlike shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who says, he “hates the whole concept of comfort!,” comfort for Sarto is foremost in his footwear designs  - and for that, we women are grateful. 

   We talked: 

LW: My daughter, Jean  - a very savvy shopper -  says Franco Sarto shoes are  a perfect combination of style, comfort and price! How do you balance all of those elements so successfully?

   FS:. Experience! Where I grew up, we had a culture ... we walked, walked, walked!  It’s not surprising that the region is famous for shoes!  And, starting so young - 

14 years old! - to work as a shoe cobbler, gave me an

understanding of the kind of construction women need for

comfort - and beauty. 

LW.  What kind of woman do you design for? Who is she in your mind's eye?

   FS: She’s normally a young woman - probably a teen - and she’s a woman of about 50; then, every woman in - between.  So many of my shoes are ones that both the daughter and her mother can enjoy.

LW:  A friend of mine who skews older than that demographic, recently bought your retro leather wedge, the one with a leather knot,  in black, navy, white, and gold!

   FS:  That’s a wonderful woman, young at heart, in spirit, in fashion!

 

LW:  What are the trends you see on the horizon; If you could offer only one piece of fashion advice for this spring/summer, what would it be?

   FS:  The platform and the wedge will be most important!

We plan more fabric, and patterns.  Our materials can be stone washed; they’ll stay fresh and beautiful.

   Heels are certainly important.  We stay to 30-60 centimeters in our line.

   Essentially, my Spring designs are centered around two major directions: easy elegance and urban vintage.    Yet, having said all that, comfort is still paramount.

LW:  Are there particular styles you intend to showcase:

   FS:  I have four favorites:  Our ‘New Twist’ sandal with a braided leather detail, in ‘gladiator’ style;  a style inspired by 1970’s, one called ‘Tangerine Dream,’ - they’re bohemian chic! For pure classic, our ‘New Neutral’ ivory sandal, with a very casual canvas wedge, is ‘basic’ and versatile.  We  call it ‘Natural

Heights.’

LW:  What inspires you? Does your family help?

   FS:  Ah, everything around us! I don’t know about my family - my daughter, who is in her 30’s, wears the shoes

that I bring home!

    I am drawn to the easygoing and elegant style of women  in the chic European resorts on the Italian coasts and the South of France—Capri, Milano Marittima, St. Tropez, Nices and Cannes...  Yet cosmopolitan capitals like New York, London and Milan,  also inspire me to design for the urban woman.   

LW:  Howard Chenfeld, my brother-in-law, was a shoe buyer, and whenever we were out, his attention was always riveted by women’s feet - and the shoes they were wearing!

   FS:  Ohh!  It’s like a disease!  I go instantly - from face -  to shoes!  Here’s how it goes:  Shoes.  Hairstyle.  Purse.  That’s it!  ###

                   

                 

                   

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