 | |
 Sergio Rossi Pop-up store, Milan | |
| Industry | Luxury goods |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1951 San Mauro Pascoli, Italy |
| Founder | Sergio Rossi |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Paul Kotrba, CEO |
| Parent | Lanvin Group |
| Website | www |
Sergio Rossi is an Italian fashion brand that focuses on footwear.[1][2] Founded in Italy in 1951, the brand was later acquired by the Gucci Group in 1999. It became a part of the Kering Group under François Pinault, from 2005 until 2016, when Investindustrial fully acquired the brand. In June 2021, Fosun Fashion Group (FFG) announced that it had come to an agreement to acquire Sergio Rossi. The ownership was transferred to the Lanvin Group in October 2021.
Founded in 1951 in San Mauro Pascoli, the brand takes its name from founder Sergio Rossi, who inherited the tools and traditions of shoemaking from his father. Rossi initially worked through the winter making sandals that he would later sell on the beaches of Rimini and in boutiques in Bologna. One such model, the Opanca, became very popular; it was a simple design in which the sole curved gently around the foot, forming a whole with the upper part of the shoe. In 1968, the first official collection of Sergio Rossi brand shoes were produced. According to Vogue, during the 1960s the company "rapidly became synonymous with Italian quality and classic feminine designs."[3]
Sergio Rossi shoes became famous for their particular use of geometric patterns and color. The brand became popular in the 1970s due to collaborations with well-known designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Azzedine Alaïa. In 1980, the expansion process began in Italy and abroad, with the opening of the first single-brand boutiques in Ancona and then later in Turin, Florence, Rome, Brussels, New York, Los Angeles, and London. In 1999, the PPR Luxury Division, known as Gucci Group, acquired 70% of shares of Sergio Rossi for a value of approximately 96 million dollars. Six years later, the Kering group bought the remaining 30%, obtaining full control of the Sergio Rossi brand. In 2015, the company was sold to Investindustrial holdings. In June 2021, Fosun Fashion Group (FFG) announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Sergio Rossi S.p.A.
Sergio Rossi considered shoemaking a continuous reflection on form, harmony and elegance; these main principles still guide the brand and are expressed in the handmade creations made by skilled craftsmen. A pair of Sergio Rossi shoes requires a minimum of 120 different processes to be completed.
The San Mauro production plant was built in 2003. It measures a total of 55,600 square meters (598,000 sq ft), with 12,000 square meters (130,000 sq ft) accounting for production and warehouse space and 4,000-square-meter (43,000 sq ft) of space for offices, pattern, and prototype departments. San Mauro's industrial platform develops, industrializes and produces all types of women and men's luxury footwear, from flat styles to high heels. The San Mauro plant produces shoes for Sergio Rossi, Amina Muaddi, and other brands.
Sergio Rossi sets sustainability goals that are established in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Initiative.[4] In 2020, 100% of all electricity used for the brand's factory, offices, and shops was produced from renewable sources.
Sergio Rossi shoes have always been very popular on the red carpet and many celebrities have worn them, including Eva Longoria, Sharon Stone, Diane Kruger, Ludivine Sagnier, Anne Hathaway, Karolína Kurková, Amanda Seyfried, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Naomi Campbell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vanessa Hudgens, Halle Barry, Eva Herzigová, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Lupita Nyong'o, Emmy Rossum, Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Nazha, Lizzo, Rita Ora and Janice Man.
Sergio Rossi's shoes have been featured in the following works:
Sergio Rossi's early advertising campaigns were inspired by the work of Helmut Newton, using low-angled shots to highlight the length of the legs and body, and focusing on the height and shape of the heel.[5] In 2011, the company opened a shop dedicated to men's shoes in Milan in collaboration with Wallpaper* magazine,[6] designed by architect Antonino Cardillo.[7] In 2012, the company released a short-film, Skin to Skin, in collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino.[8]
