Italian leather shoes handmade and hand-painted: unique, beautiful, comfortable. Not just a pair of shoes, but a little piece of Italy.
Jacopo Ridolfi Shoes is a new proposal, based on ancient Italian traditions. We make shoes: every day we create unique products, made in Italy with premium quality materials, handmadeand hand-painted with care. Ridolfi is our family name, our story: we are working to grow and turn a family business into a new brand, in order to offer high quality products crafted by the last artisans and shoemakers of our country.
We care a lot about art, craft and comfort. We believe in making unique products, for those who want to live as individuals and stop existing as consumers, moved only by the imposed fashion of the moment. We are excited and we dream to make shoes as unique as the people who are going to wear them.
Our brand looks after the whole production, from leathers selection, through model design and hand paint operations, to the sale of an authentic Italian handmade product. Each shoe is unique and tells many stories: that of Italian fine materials used to create it, together with thecraftsmanship and the inspiration that leads to the combination of bold colours. Above all, it tells the taste of those who choose it.
Get yours and walk with us!
We are artisans. Our main inspirations come from art and nature. It’s not just about the shape, we strongly believe that hand-painted colour makes every shoe a distinguished and unique piece, looking back to the great tradition of Italian art.
We make our shoes with absolute care and we like to explore the infinite range of creative possibilities, paying serious attention to the research and the quality of top level materials, together with care of comfort (i.e. wide fit and high toe). Our classic Oxford and Derby models are handmade, with a personal touch: unique combinations of materials (leather and suede,gloss and matte finish) and colours.
Our shoes are extraordinarily comfortable, breathable (yes, your feet are really safe) andlong-lasting. Colours and materials make these products quite polished, but also wearable for an original touch in everyday life.
Wood is our great inspiration for this collection, so why should we use a normal box? “Take care” also means pack our shoes in a wooden box, handmade by other local artisans, where we always put a little mid-soft brush and a jar of delicate conditioning cream.
Someone gives stretch goals in order to increase the number of backers… We want to be different from the beginning and do not want to deny our customers, even if they will be only a few, to get something beautiful that can be appreciated. Our care is your love.
Long story short: because of the industrial process, all the leather shoes of the world are made with leathers already colored in tannery. Leathers usually go inside an automatic spraying paint machine, a big tunnel where they get painted by airbrush and then dried inside an oven.Shoemakers normally buy colored leather from tanneries and then they work it (cutting and assembling, making the shoes).
We start from a completely different concept. We buy white leather from tannery, thenwe cut it, hand paint it (yes, one by one!) and assemble it. In our method the colour follows theshape of the shoe and the line (not the opposite), creating a design which is unique and impossible to realize in any other industrial way. It’s a process that requires more time andmore craftsmanship: the final result is stunning, and unique. Then, selling directly to our backers and customers, with no retail increase, we are able to keep affordable prices.
Have you ever felt the difference?
(At the present time we are able to produce a maximum of 30 pieces per day, so we set the delivery timeline according to this productive capacity).
First of all, we guarantee a product entirely handmade and crafted in Italy, step by step. This is our commitment and our cultural challenge. For us, the brand “Made in Italy” is a promise of beauty and high quality. Italy is inspiring. We see centuries of history, art and culture all over the land, in each beautiful city and little town. We enjoy unique colours, shapes, flavours and views.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be part of it?
We offer our best to all backers and we believe that is much more than just buying a pair of premium shoe in a lovely wooden box at an affordable price. At any pledge level we will add every backer to our fidelity mailing list, to get exclusive newsletters and access to limited offers in the future. We want you to be part of our vision, so we will send also tips for maintenance and enjoyable insights into our inspirations (and Italy). This is our dream and our chance, to make unique shoes for unique people: get your chance.
Look over the rewards and read the pledge descriptions for more details (and feel free to contact us).
Since every foot is different, we will send to all our backers a simple chart and ask for 2 measurements (in addition to the request of the usual shoe size): this little check will provide the best fit. All our shoes are true to size and very comfortable (with wide fit).
Once the campaign is funded, we will first send the surveys (style, colour and size) and hope to receive soon them back from all backers in July/August 2016. So, the faster we get them back, the sooner we start making your shoes, of course!
Approximately, we will procede through production in 8 weeks, and then shipping in 3 weeks (by October/November 2016).
In our timeline we wanted to consider a safety margin, but we can say that we will start the production immediately and probably the first orders could be processed even during summer (and then gradually).
Good things come to those who wait. At the present time we are able to produce a maximum of 30 pieces per day, so we set the delivery timeline according to this productive capacity. We always put a strong effort in order to satisfy all our customers, but please consider that every piece is handmade and hand-painted (so, it’s worth a little waiting for).
1957: My mother, Nicoletta, begin her adventure working in the shoe district of Verona, discovering how to choose the best materials, to be familiar with shapes and models. She learn a precious handmade tradition, that turns into passion and family business. As all stories are, this is made of experiences, inspirations, encounters.
2016: From a family business to a new local brand, hopefully. Join our campaign and be a part of this artisanal dream!
We make unique shoes because we think that every person is truly unique and different. You will find updates and daily inspirations on our Facebook page: we will be so glad if you decide to share our work.
Follow us on Instagram: @jacoporidolfishoes
Our challenge is to introduce a new production process, a company of painters, who paint the shoes one by one. We have a long experience in high quality manufacturing and we are prepared to confront any new situation, included this one. We are sure about every step and we know what to do.
The most common risk in our work is production delays. The manufacturing process relies on several components and cooperations with other parts (mostly with our suppliers). There is always the possibility of a slight delay.
However, we will be providing updates every step of the way.