FASHION
Interview With Italian Luxury Shoe Designer Francesca Bellavita
by Nadia French | February 8, 2022
Photo: Designer Francesca Bellavita
From a young age, Italian shoe designer Francesca Bellavita was drawn to fashion, crafting outfits for her dolls and taking inspiration from the impeccable style of her mother and grandmother.
She turned that childhood passion into a career, studying at Istituto Marangoni in Milan and later earning a Master’s in Shoe Design from Arsutoria School.
After a decade of experience as a freelance designer for popular brands such as Champion, Colmar, and The Coca-Cola Company, Francesca felt it was time to bring her own vision to life.
In 2017, she took a game changing step in her career by launching her own namesake label, FRANCESCA BELLAVITA, making her mark in the fashion industry with her distinctive and innovative shoe designs.
Q+A
1. CA: How did your childhood and where you grew up influence your fashion taste?
Francesca: I was born in Bergamo, a city very close to Milan. Since I was a child, I've always been passionate about fashion. My toys have always been about fashion: I created clothes for my Barbies, I made knitted dresses with my grandmother for my dolls, and I chose every little detail: fabrics, buttons etc. Moreover, I grew up with my mom and grandmother, who always had a big fashion taste.
2. CA: What led you to start your shoe line, and tell us a bit about your fashion journey?
Francesca: When I finished high school, I graduated in fashion design at Istituto Marangoni in Milan. Since the very first time I designed my first shoe collection at university, I understood that my future would have been about shoes. So I took a Master's in Shoe Design at Arsutoria School.
In the meantime, I've worked for ten years as a freelance designer for many Italian and international streetwear companies, like Champion, Colmar, The Coca Cola company, etc. In 2017 with these experiences in fashion, I felt ready to start my own shoe brand, and with the help of my husband, I founded FRANCESCA BELLAVITA.
Photo: Made In Italy Shoes by Francesca Bellavita
3. CA: What separates your shoes from other luxury shoe brands?
Francesca: I think the world of fashion takes itself too seriously. Instead, my concept of fashion is to HAVE FUN! Life is already hard, so we have to enjoy it with fashion! That's why I create colorful, fun, and sexy shoes at the same time. I design shoes that seem like toys. Luxury toys, of course! The women who buy my shoes are sexy and funny; they don't take life too seriously, love life, and enjoy themselves.
4. CA: Have you seen any innovation in your industry that has changed the game since you started?
Francesca: In this world, everything changes every day, particularly social media and the way to do communication. So it would be best if we keep up with all these innovations.
Photo: Made In Italy Shoes by Francesca Bellavita
5. CA: Do you have a muse that inspires you?
Francesca: Carrie Bradshaw.
6. CA: Who are some of your favorite industry icons that you believe have had an enormous contribution to the fashion world?
Francesca: Miuccia Prada of course, Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, Alexander Mc Queen.
7. CA: Who is your ideal client and customer, and where can we shop your designs?
Francesca: Sexy, funny, and powerful women of course. We design for those who laugh loudly, drink champagne, love to enjoy life, and don't care about the opinions of others. For women that live their lives in the way they want.
Our collections are sold in the best boutiques in Italy, Russia, and the Middle East. We've just started selling in China, and from 2022 we are expanding in the USA market. In the USA, we have an e-commerce collaboration with SARAH LOVE where you can find our new collection at https://www.sarahlove.shop/francesca-bellavita.
https://www.sarahlove.shop/francesca-bellavita
https://shop.francescabellavita.com/collections/