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 Ferragamo shoes, 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 Ferragamo shoes, clothing and other items on 1stDibs.
Ferragamo Gold Large Ring
By Ferragamo
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Snag this ultra-fashion forward Ferragamo ring! This is made to make a statement. This can be worn as a ring on your hand or used as a scarf ring. Everyone loves a versatile piece! T...
Vintage Custom 2 Carat Boulder Opal on 22K and 14K Gold Cocktail Fashion Ring
Located in Milford, DE
A gorgeous opal in a unique cut! This statement cocktail ring features a custom-cut boulder opal with a mesmerizing, blue, black, and purple play of color in the body. Set in a decor...
Opal, 22k Gold
Navajo Native American Sterling Silver Malachite Cocktail Ring, Vintage
By Navajo
Located in Milford, DE
An exquisite vintage cocktail ring! This Native American accessory features an accented sterling silver band with a malachite cabochon. Navajo design and make. Size: US 7 Marks / h...
Malachite, Sterling Silver
Rachel Koen Round and Baguette Diamond Cocktail Ring 14K White Gold 2.00ctw
Located in New York, NY
This special diamond cocktail ring embeds pure beauty of uniqueness and elegance. The combination of approximately 2.00 carat of round cut and baguette cut diamonds in G-H color and ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Flower Faux Pearl Cocktail Ring, Salmon Coral Enamel, KJL
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
Floral elegance by Kenneth Jay Lane! A cocktail ring featuring a flower, painted in salmon coral enamel and accented with a single faux pearl. Adjustable sizes 4.5 to 8 US Gold pla...
Pearl, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold
Faye Kim 18 Karat Gold Diamond White South Sea Pearl Ring
By Faye Kim
Located in Darien, CT
Faye Kim's 18 Karat Gold Diamond White South Sea Pearl Ring highlights the classic beauty of South Sea pearls made wearable for today's cont...
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Aquamarine 14 Karat Ornate Floral Gold Ring, Open Back Setting, Vintage
Located in Milford, DE
An exquisite mid-1900s ring featuring a single aquamarine, set in an extravagant, floral-themed prong-setting. Ring Size US 8 1/4 Hallmarks: 14K, OX Face height: 13.9 mm Aquamarine ...
Aquamarine, 14k Gold
David Webb White Enamel Wave with Rubies, Emeralds and Sapphires Ring
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Sexy sophistication was the scaffolding for the design of the Manhattan Minimalism Collection. Particularly this fabulous Wave ring made of white enamel on 18K gold and platinum feat...
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage Russian Baltic Amber Cabochon Ring, Floral Silver Bezel, Open Back, Sz 7
Located in Milford, DE
Exquisite Russian pendant, featuring a beautifully-carved genuine Baltic amber cabochon on a stylish silver chain chain. Silver. Ring size US 7 Face dimensions: 2.6 x 1.6 cm / 1 x ...
Amber, Silver
Textured Geode Druzy Square Ring
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estates, IL
A brilliant textured druzy sits surrounded by sparkling CZ stones. Ring size 7 & 8. Available in square & round blue, green and white druzy. Limited Stock. Metal: 18K Gold plated F...
Agate, Zircon, Geode, Druzy, Base Metal
14 Karat Yellow Gold Square Cut .45 Carat Ruby and Round Diamond Fashion Ring
Located in Milford, DE
A classy ring with a brilliant sparkle. Features 9 square-cut, open back genuine rubies (.05 ct each) set between two rows of eleven 1.3mm round diamonds. All set on 14K gold band. ...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
.16 Carat Diamond 14 Karat Gold and Platinum Stylized Twisted Ring Band, 1970
Located in Milford, DE
A fancy ring featuring intertwined 14K gold and platinum on the front. Each of the 4 platinum rows is accented with 4 .01 carat diamonds, for a total of 16 diamonds totaling .16 cara...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Gold
Meghna Jewels Handcrafted Round Druzy Ring
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estates, IL
A brilliant textured round druzy surrounded by sparkling CZ stones. Ring size 7 & 8. Available in green and white druzy. Limited Stock. A small video can be requested for this neckl...
Agate, Base Metal