The Italian shoemaker who dressed Hollywood’s feet and invented the wedge.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 15 November 2026
How did Salvatore Ferragamo start?
Born in southern Italy in 1898, he made his first shoes as a child, emigrated to the United States as a teenager and ended up in California, making boots and sandals for Hollywood films. He became known as the “shoemaker to the stars”, and studied anatomy so his shoes would be comfortable as well as beautiful. He returned to Italy and settled in Florence in 1927.
What did he invent?
During the 1930s, when sanctions on Italy made steel and good leather scarce, he made heels from cork, creating the wedge. His multi-coloured “rainbow” platform sandal of 1938 was made for Judy Garland, and his “invisible” sandal with a nylon-thread upper won a major American fashion award in 1947. He also worked on the steel-reinforced stiletto.
What is the Vara?
A low-heeled pump with a grosgrain bow and a gold plaque, designed by his daughter Fiamma Ferragamo in 1978. It became the house’s best-known shoe and a staple of office dressing. The company’s museum in Palazzo Spini Feroni, its Florence headquarters, holds thousands of historic models, including shoes for Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
Who runs Ferragamo now?
The company is listed on the Milan stock exchange and still controlled by the Ferragamo family. In 2022 it dropped “Salvatore” from its logo and appointed the young British designer Maximilian Davis as creative director, who has refocused the house on modern, sensual clothes and its shoemaking roots.
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