Founded in 1952 in Naples, where the headquarters are still located today, Mario Valentino is a leading brand in the leather goods sector, a historic manufacturer of footwear, accessories and clothing.
In the fifties Mario Valentino collected the tradition of the Valentino brand founded by his father Vincenzo at the beginning of the twentieth century, soon well known among the local aristocracy and celebrities. He added his very personal touch to this precious legacy, translating it into shoes of great elegance, in a skilful mix of craftsmanship and creativity. Like the flat sandal with a coral flower held back by its very thin strands of coral beads that has become iconic and is still on display at the Bally shoe museum in Schoenenwerd (Switzerland).
Between the Sixties and the Eighties the inspiration of Mario Valentino comes from the dialogue with the artists of his era such as Warhol, Pomodoro and Rauschenberg, from photographers like Helmut Newton, Avedon, Robert Mappelthorpe and Toscani who sign his advertising campaigns, and from collaborations with famous designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace and Claude Montanà … it is from this fertile humus that unique creations with a distinctive character come to life.
Celebs such as Farah Diba, Jacklin Kennedy Onassis, Consuelo Crespi, Maria Callas, Liz Taylor, Catherine Deneuve, Catherine Spaak, the Kessler twins, Monica Vitti, Ornella Vanoni, Ilaria Occhini, Laura Efrikian, Stefania Sandrelli and Marcello Mastroianni were among the most famous clients of Mario Valentino.
In the eighties the prestige of Mario Valentino is at its peak and the brand has a global presence, also thanks to single-brand boutiques in key markets of Asia, Europe, the United States and Japan.
The Mario Valentino signature continues today under the direction of his son Enzo, who renews the brand’s elite image and its values. The brand’s style is characterised by the balanced mix of traditional craftsmanship and technological innovation, combined with constant research within the product, manufacturing processes, materials and the unmistakable stylistic quality.
The historic single-brand store in the most elegant street of Naples and the Milan store-showroom, in the heart of Brera represent the company.
| Sector | Production |
|---|---|
| MANUFACTURERS | footwear |
