Don’t think along the lines of Gucci or Prada, but more along the lines of Plato or the ancient sacred texts. The Lamperti Milano collection is a harmonious fusion of quality, beauty, originality and tradition, just like the ancient scripts that have been passed down across the ages.

When you ask her about the inspiration that animates her footwear designs, she replies Homer, Ovid, Socrates, and Plato… She doesn’t affiliate herself with the new emerging designers, she refers to ancient authors of immortal literary works. Erika Lamperti began designing when she was very young, taking her inspiration from the Latin and Greek texts she studied at secondary school. She has always been fascinated by the power of these texts and the mysteries they conceal. So, after graduating in economy in Milan and after taking a masters in Management in London, the dream to return to work with her imagination came back to knock on her door. Central Saint Martins School of Arts provided Erika with the technical knowledge to design and produce her first collection of shoes, also in collaboration with her brother, Federico, who oversaw the production at the Vigevano shoe factory, and in 2013, the first Lamperti Milano collection was born.

Which type of woman are your designs created for? «I imagine a woman of the 1980s. A femininity with a masculine edge: wide-legged trousers and broad shoulders. She travels a lot and is hardly ever at home. She is a woman who is informed and interested in what she wears. A woman who knows how to appreciate and recognise artisanal workmanship».

What are your favourite materials? «As my designs have gradually become more sophisticated, the materials chosen by Federico have become even more precious and refined: we have started to fuse soft Tuscan nappa, raffia and fabric with metallic accents, giving the shoes the allure of a jewel».

I get the impression that you really like defining the details, is this true? «Exactly. My shoes are characterised by the details and have a timeless style. The cross-shaped heel, a signature element of the brand, is an example of this. Another element of the brands creativity can be found in the asymmetrical design of some of the footwear, an aspect that surprises and appeals. This goes right the way through to the refined and original packaging, which exalts the concept of the brand, highlighting our objective of providing the public with authentic works of art, 100% handmade in Italy».

What will the summer 2016 collection be like? «The mood is a Dantean paradise. So, we’ll be using lots of precious stones and pastel colours. For the materials, we’ve gone for lots of silk and elaborate brocade work. It will be a rich, but also very fresh collection. We’ll have wedges, plateaus, slippers and sandals. Again, the iconic serpent will be very present, as well as the coffee-coloured laces».

Who are the believers in your project so far? «To date, the shoes have been appreciated and distributed in the United States (Orphic of Los Angeles), in Eastern Europe, Switzerland and, naturally, Italy. They have been worn by various celebrities, including Victoria Summer, Karine Vanasse, Louise Roe, Aida Yespica, Stephanie Leigh Schlund and Lindsay Lohan».

What sales channels are you aiming for? «Many on the e-commerce front. I want to give a highly technological edge to our customer experience: create a virtual store, and who knows, maybe even a temporary store where we can tell the story of each model. We also like the idea of a different e-commerce formula, with a focus on customer service. Maybe a 3D experience, or sending different sizes of the product to the client, so they can try them on to find their perfect size, for example».

It’s not easy to get a foothold in the footwear sector. What satisfactions have you already had? «The cross heel shoe is on display at the International Footwear Museum in Vigevano, which has made me very happy. And it was wonderful to be invited by the Marangoni Institute of Milan, to work on a case study that involved all the students on the Master in Brand Management course».

What do you expect in the immediate future? «Our first sales season at the important Pizzini showroom in Milan and our participation at the Coterie tradeshow in New York, which opens on the 19th of September».