The Fabio Rusconi brand was born in 1998 in Florence on the experience gained in the footwear industry by the entrepreneur, founder and CEO whose name the brand bears. The project originated on his return from a trip to Japan, a destination dear to Fabio Rusconi and a place where the entrepreneur grasps the importance of Made in Italy in the Land of the Rising Sun and around the world.
Would you call yourself more creative or more entrepreneur?
“Certainly not creative. I have been able to interpret and anticipate customers’ tastes and desires. I am a curious entrepreneur and an avid traveler, exploring markets in order to get to know their culture and needs, which I then translate into footwear that appeals globally without betraying the Italian identity of the brand.”
After your experiences with Gilda, Classe Unica and 1921, what concepts did you want to keep central to the Fabio Rusconi brand?
“I want the brand to be a bishop of Made in Italy and promoter of a contemporary, sophisticated style characterized by meticulous care in the choice of materials and details.
In fact, Fabio Rusconi’s production is entirely Made in Italy, with the unique exception of woven leather shoes – the Brand’s iconic product – whose uppers are made in India, the home of excellent quality weaving.”
Do you also look to Italy for materials?
“The sourcing of leather and raw materials, including nappa leather, suede, patent leather, metallic and calfskin, takes place entirely in Italy at a few select tanneries that are highly specialized and able to guarantee quality products.”
To whom does Fabio Rusconi footwear appeal?
“They interpret the desires of contemporary, cosmopolitan and independent women. Italian leather and manufacturing and the search for a minimal, sober and contemporary style represent the cornerstones of the Brand, which places women’s needs at the center of its stylistic investigation.”
Any numbers that present the brand?
“I would choose these: 190 thousand pairs produced in 2022 distributed in 400 stores in 40 countries.”
So, let’s talk about distribution…
“Fabio Rusconi has a mainly wholesale vocation with widespread distribution in different regions of the world. Japan is the market of choice, responsible for 50 percent of total sales. In the rest of the world the countries of reference are Italy, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, France, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland with particular presence and success in the areas of Central and Northern Europe. Appreciated in Israel, in the U.S. the brand relies on a network of long-standing customers who have espoused the project since its inception. The brand’s e-commerce channel, the only form of direct distribution, accounts for 10 percent of sales.”
What should we expect for spring summer 2024?
“Soft tassels, patent leather and suede, declined in bright shades like turquoise and fuchsia, or neutrals like camel and ice, characterize contemporary silhouettes capable of elevating even the most classic outfits. We ride the trend of the iconic Mary Jane, proposed in flat, kitten heel or wide heel versions. We also present new variants of ultra-feminine silhouettes with mesh uppers: ballet flats and seductive stiletto heels, destined to become real objects of desire.”
