Through the Lens of Salvatore Ferragamo's Gancini Collection

Ferragamo has always been associated with the movies and the arts. Salvatore Ferragamo, the creator and namesake of the company, first rose to prominence as a shoemaker for Hollywood stars in the early twentieth century.

Before coming to the United States at the age of 16, the Italian designer manufactured his first pair of shoes for his sister and launched his first shoe shop in Italy. Ferragamo rapidly became involved in the creation of shoes for the developing American cinema scene after relocating to California.

Ferragamo understood he wanted to be a part of the creative world of cinema and the processes that go into it, so he opened a shoe shop in Hollywood in 1923, the same year the Hollywood sign was created. He developed shoes for movies and stars of the day, such as the 12,000 sandals he manufactured for Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments." Salvatore Ferragamo became a well-known shoe brand during Hollywood's golden age, and his customer list grew to include celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren.

Salvatore Ferragamo’s Gancini Collection Through the Lens