Salvatore Ferragamo Flower Bikini
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Bilbao, ES
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU181229911912
Salvatore Ferragamo
A perfectionist who as a child crafted a pair of white shoes for his sister’s first holy communion because his parents couldn’t afford new footwear, Salvatore Ferragamo was ambitious from his earliest days. The young Italian shoemaker established in the years that followed what would one day become a fashion empire — the highly profitable multinational family-owned and -operated luxury brand today counts more than 600 stores in 96 countries around the world, and vintage Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, belts, handbags and other clothing and accessories are objects of desire for fashion lovers everywhere.
Salvatore Ferragamo sought an education in the art of shoemaking when he was eleven — he apprenticed with a local shoemaker and spent a short time in nearby Naples learning what he could at a shoe factory. He opened his first shop with a handful of workers the following year, and in 1914 — when he was still a teenager — Ferragamo emigrated to America, just as his siblings had before him, seeking new opportunities for work and to learn in the footwear trade.
After securing a job at the Plant Shoe Factory in Boston, Massachusetts, Ferragamo was uninspired by machine-made footwear. He moved across the country to Santa Barbara, California. Owing to a connection he made with a then-actor cousin, Ferragamo found work with the American Film Manufacturing Company. He made women’s shoes and provided durable cowboy boots for a film crew’s costuming department. Ferragamo’s reputation in the world of Hollywood cinema soon broadened, and he established a storefront in Mission Canyon where he made shoes by hand for the likes of actresses Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo and Dolores del Río.
By the 1920s, film directors commissioned Ferragamo to produce shoes for a range of movies — the list of films eventually included The Ten Commandments, The Covered Wagon and The Thief of Baghdad. When he felt comfortable enough with the English language, Ferragamo also enrolled in anatomy courses at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in order to better understand motion and the demands that we place on our footwear.
By the late 1920s, Ferragamo sought to expand production of his shoes and returned to Italy. He hired scores of apprentices to work in a factory in Florence, where Ferragamo carefully melded the principles of handcraftsmanship with all that he learned about America’s shoe factories. He filed patents — hundreds over the years — on the steel shank arch and many other unique aspects of his shoe design, and when economic and political influences during the 1930s forced Ferragamo to substitute pressed cork for steel to support the arch, the wedge heel was born. Other creative materials he integrated into his forward-looking creations were hemp, felt, nylon fishing line, fish skin and cellophane twisted with silk.
In the late 1940s, the brand’s first storefront opened in Manhattan, and today Salvatore Ferragamo is known worldwide and is synonymous with a wealth of iconic footwear such as Viva ballet flats, Vara Bow pumps, Gancini loafers and lots more. Ferragamo’s son, Ferruccio, was appointed CEO in 1984. Under his leadership, Ferruccio diversified and expanded the fashion business further, getting into sunglasses, fragrance, watches and made-to-measure men’s shoes. Ferruccio was succeeded by his brother, Leonardo Ferragamo, and British designer Maximilian Davis is now creative director of the brand.
Find vintage Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Bilbao, Spain
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Vintage Hermès Pink Parrots Beach TowelBy HermèsLocated in Bilbao, ES1990's Vintage Hermès Beach Towel 100% cotton Fair Condition Measure: 150x90 cm or 59x35 inches Paris, Made In France Since 1984, when ...Category
1980s French Textiles and Quilts
- Vintage Hermes Horseshoe print silk TieBy HermèsLocated in Bilbao, ESVintage Hermes Silk Tie Hermes Horseshoe print tie Brown, beige, silk ,horseshoe print, diagonal stripe pattern, finished edge, and pointed toe Paris...Category
Early 2000s French Textiles and Quilts
- Cathy Latham, the "Cuvee d'Hermes" plisée ScarfBy HermèsLocated in Bilbao, ESSilk Couvee D Hermes Scarf 90 Yellow AUTHENTIC 90 cm / 35.4in HERMES Silk Scarf. Signed by Cathy Latham, the "Cuvee d'Hermes" is one of the most sou...Category
1980s French Textiles and Quilts
- Cathy Latham, Tahiti Hermes ScarfBy HermèsLocated in Bilbao, ESHERMES Scarf Silk Scarf 100% Paris, Made In France Beautiful Caty Latham's Tahiti is a lovely Hermes silk scarf here in a pretty colorway and from either the original or early iss...Category
1970s French Textiles and Quilts
- D& G Dolce & Gabbana strech wool ensemble top & skirtBy D&G by DOLCE & GABBANALocated in Bilbao, ESDolce & Gabbana strech wool enseble top & skirt Incredibly elegant in an understated way. Size M READY TO SHIP *Shipment of this piece is not affected by COVID-19. Orders welcome!...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Twin Sets
- Timeless Grey Jil Sander work suit in freeze wool size 40By Jil SanderLocated in Bilbao, ESJill Sander founded her own fashion house Jil Sander in Rotherbaum, Hamburg, Germany in 1968 with her mother's sewing machine. Her first collection was for Hoechst, a chemical compan...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Skirt Suits
- 1980s Escada BikiniBy EscadaLocated in Scottsdale, AZDo not miss out on this stunning piece of swimwear that captures the essence of the 1980s fashion era - the Escada bikini. With its semi full coverage high waisted style, this bikini offers a touch of vintage charm combined with a modern twist. The hook closure at the back ensures a secure fit, while the padded top provides both comfort and a flattering silhouette. The adjustable straps allow for a personalized fit, and the gold tone Escada logos at the straps add a touch of luxury. Adorned with a warm brown geometric print, this bikini exudes timeless elegance and versatility, making it a must-have addition to any swimwear collection. Get ready to make a statement by embracing the allure of the past while enjoying the comfort of contemporary design. Style with a Chanel head scarf, a Pucci cover up and your favorite Louis Vuitton beach bag...Category
1980s German Bikinis
- Tom Ford for Gucci S/S 1998 Cutout Buckles One Piece Bodysuit Swimsuit SwimwearBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Naples, FLTom Ford for Gucci S/S 1998 Cutout Gold Buckles One Piece Bodysuit Swimsuit Swimwear Size LCategory
1990s Swimwear
- Gucci S/S 2005 Runway Cutout Sheer Panels Two-Piece Bikini Swimsuit SwimwearBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Naples, FLGucci S/S 2005 Runway Cutout Sheer Panels Two-Piece Bikini Swimsuit Swimwear Size M Look 27 from the Spring 2005 Collection. Excellent ConditionCategory
Early 2000s Swimwear
- Tom Ford for Gucci S/S 1998 Cutout Buckles One Piece Bodysuit Swimsuit SwimwearBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Naples, FLTom Ford for Gucci S/S 1998 Cutout Gold Buckles One Piece Bodysuit Swimsuit Swimwear Size XSCategory
1990s Swimwear
- 1980s Bill Blass Navy Blue and White Vintage 80s One Piece Swimsuit BodysuitBy Bill BlassLocated in San Diego, CAChic late 80s BILL BLASS navy blue and white nautical inspired one piece swimsuit or bodysuit ! Gold logo BB embossed buttons up the front and at each side of the waist. Perfect for...Category
1990s American Swimwear
- Hermes Men's Coups de Goua'H Swim Trunks Blue Givre MBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLHermes long swim trunks featured in Coups de Goua'H print. In Bleu Givre colorway. H design with a gouache technique where the colours seem to be be under water. Trunks have an elast...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Swim Trunks