30 Years of Giuseppe Zanotti: A Dive into the Brand’s History  

Earlier this month, renowned luxury shoe designer Giuseppe Zanotti visited Thailand to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his brand, hosting an event at his boutique in Central Chidlom that was attended by numerous VIPs and Thai celebrities. To commemorate this milestone, Prestige looks back on the brand’s origins and its rich history.

Giuseppe Zanotti was born on April 17, 1957, in San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, a region known for shoe manufacturing. Although he was raised in a family of ice cream makers, his savvy for design was evident from an early age as he found himself constantly envisioning new creations for cars, bicycles, and even cones for his family’s gelateria in his free time. In the 1980s, he ended up venturing into a career as a radio DJ, fuelled by a love for music that began in his childhood when he started playing guitar.

Immersed in the music subculture, particularly the lifestyle that surrounded the rock genre, Giuseppe became fascinated by the fashion of several iconic artists. This ultimately led him to decide to leave music behind to study shoemaking at local factories near his hometown. During this time, he honed his knowledge and technical skills before embarking on a career as a freelance shoe designer, working for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, including Roberto Cavalli, Thierry Mugler, and Valentino.

In the early 1990s, Giuseppe decided to take a bold step and launch his own brand by acquiring a small shoe company called Vicini in his hometown. The company was divided into three parts: a style office and two departments focused on jewellery and heels. He introduced his first collection at the Plaza Hotel in 1994, which quickly attracted attention from fashion aficionados.

Following this success, he collaborated with prominent names in fashion, including Proenza Schouler and Balmain. In 2000, he opened his first boutique in Milan, and shortly after expanded to other fashion capitals like New York, Paris, London, and Dubai. By 2007, he also entered the Chinese market through a franchise agreement with Life Luxury Group.

Giuseppe’s rise to fame can be attributed to his experimentation with unique shapes, decorative elements, and a distinctive aesthetic that blends rock and hip-hop iNFLuence with classic, elegant shoe silhouettes. Subsequently, his designs gained plenty of popularity among celebrities, including the likes of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Gwen Stefani, among others. Each iconic creation begins with a sketch that captures not only the shoe’s shape, but its texture and movement akin to that of a visual artist that aims to translate emotion onto paper. Moreover, his designs are crafted to remain captivating over time.

Some of Giuseppe Zanotti’s most iconic designs include the Combat Sandal, inspired by a Moroccan sunset; the Bloc Sandal, featuring a structural open heel that combines the comfort of a wedge with the lightness of a stiletto; the Choker Sandal, adorned with a jewel strand that drapes over the foot and a plush embroidered silk insole; and the Jimi Sandal, a tribute to the costumes of legendary rockstar Jimi Hendrix. Other notable creations are the Deco Pump, which pairs crocodile-embossed leather with a Swarovski toe jewel; the Slim Sandal, characterised by its unique fishbone jewel; and the Ring Sandal, which has become one of the house’s most celebrated trademarks.

In 2010, Giuseppe expanded the brand’s offerings by introducing new product categories, including jewellery and Sportswear. This led to the introduction of luxury sneakers, which have since become staples. In 2012, the brand debuted Giuseppe Homme, a men’s shoe line that incorporates hip-hop iNFLuences across sneakers, moccasins, and combat boots.

During this period, the designer also unveiled several iconic creations for women: the Adele Wedge, designed in collaboration with Lady Gaga for her ‘Born This Way Ball’ tour; the Venere Sandal, which draws parallels between a woman’s body and a serpent; the Tattoo Sandal, which notably saw support from Kanye West for the cover of his Cruel Summer compilation album as a result of its eye-catching baroque gold leaf design; and the Pyramid Sandal, worn by Jennifer Lopez on the cover of her Dance Again album.

In 2014, L Catterton, a subset of the LVMH Group, acquired a 30 percent stake in Vicini Spa (owners of the Giuseppe Zanotti brand). This partnership enhanced the brand’s market presence even further, further fuelling its popularity among celebrities and music icons worldwide. In 2019, Giuseppe launched a capsule collection in collaboration with Rita Ora, which showcased more of the brand’s signature sculptural silhouettes and decorative motifs. This then led to additional capsule collections with artists Swae Lee and Evan Mock.

In 2020, the brand introduced the Giuseppe Zanotti Icon Project, aimed at reissuing its most iconic designs. Now, in 2024, the brand celebrates its 30th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the visionary designer Travelled to Thailand for an anniversary event at the brand’s boutique on the first floor of Central Chidlom, located within LuxeGalerie. The event was attended by numerous celebrities, VIPs, and iNFLuential figures in the fashion industry, including Sonya Singha, Opal Suchata, Kirana “Jazzy” Chewter, and many others.

Reflecting on his career thus far, Giuseppe said: “For me, shoes are not just a symbol of Roman craftsmanship and expertise—pioneers of the luxury shoe industry—but also a representation of potential. The more luxurious the design, whether enhanced with metal or rhinestones, the more powerful the message.”

The event also served as an ideal segue for introducing the brand’s Fall-Winter 2024 collection, which pays tribute to the resurgence of minimalist style of the 1990s, characterised by clean lines and geometric shapes. The collection features ballet flats and riding boots, presented in a colour palette inspired by nature, with hues of olive green, chocolate brown, tan, clay, and black. Some designs also incorporate textural elements that mimic snakeskin and crocodile skin.

Giuseppe’s latest collections highlight his talent for reimagining iconic designs. For instance, he has transformed the Tuxedo shoe into a more delicate variation, moving away from its original heavy embellishments. This reworking also extends to new loafer-style shoes made from hammered leather and suede, as well as revamped biker shoes that have thick yet lightweight soles. The redesigned sneakers also complement the rest of the collection, as they have been crafted using warm, neutral tones and comfortable materials like Napa leather.

(All images courtesy of Giuseppe Zanotti)