New Brand Alert: SILVANO SASSETTI Footwear (Made In Italy)

A common misconception is that established brands - even world-famous ones - make their own shoes. Well, wrong. On the contrary, most brands have anonymous factories manufacture their shoes for them. Silvano Sassetti happens to be one such shoe-maker -- one of the finest in the whole of Italy, who has been producing shoes for the biggest names around the world (example: Gucci) since the mid-90s.

MADE IN ITALY 

Having learned shoe-making  from master craftsmen at the tender age of 13, founder Silvano Sassetti graduated from apprentice to small workshop-owner in 1977. (The place eventually grew into the present shoe factory in Monte San Pietrangeli in 1996.) Today, using only premium leather material and unparalleled processing skills, Sassetti wields the art of shoemaking like no other, and his namesake line has been described as ‘the summit of class’. Favoloso!

Whoop! is an official stockist of Silvano Sassetti.

The success of Silvano Sassetti’s creations lies in the flawless craftsmanship and sleek classic design. Made in Italy with a full leather construction, these handsome shoes will make the perfect, confident foundation to your repertoire.

Sure to suit the dress code for a host of occasions, they can be dressed up with a refined tailored suit for an instantly sharp finish, or more casually with dark selvedge jeans/chinos.

(RRP €329.00 - €349.00)

APEPAZZA (Italy) Nappa Wedge Heels

How do we make a great first impression? Of course, the warmth of personality will not fail you.
Nonetheless, some folks do tend to look at what you wear -especially on your feet- and decide in themselves what you are.
The quality construction of this wedge heel from Apepazza is sure to grab attention.
Super-soft nappa leather upper wraps your foot for total flattery, while a sculpted and stacked wedge heel adds leg-lengthening yet stable height. You’ll appreciate the open-toe for comfort and flirt, and that easy heel-cup zip for convenience.
Match this sensual beauty with a body-con bandage dress for a devastating dose of glamour, or simply don it with comfortable capris or denims.
(RRP US$179)

APEPAZZA
Apepazza is a brand with roots in Padua (Padova), a city outside of Venice, Italy. In 1982, Adriana Baganti started the line after working her entire life in her parents’ footwear business. Baganti literally has shoes in her blood – she was born in a shoe store! Following its American debut in 2005, Apepazza has been making smooth strides in the high-end market in the U.S..
Sophisticated, eclectic and original, Apepazza is designed for ladies with a keen sense of individual style. Never a follower, the Apepazza woman is master and creator of her own image.

GAGA MILANO (Italy)

Guys and girls, bring some swagger to your wrists with Gaga Milano!
Unique and fabulous, these addictive Italian watches – with manual winding (similar to Panerai’s basic movement) – will not only amp up your usual arm styling, they are unerringly giftable, too (beats the Christmas tie!). Go ahead, make a few lucky wrists happy!


Like boyfriend jeans and borrowed-from-him button-downs, there is something very attractive about a big watch dangling off a woman’s delicate wrist. (Gaga Milano watches are for both guys and gals.)


GAGA MILANO
Founded in 2004 by Ruben Tomella, Gaga Milano is a collection inspired by irony, shapes, and colours. The brand evolved from the concept of attaching a strap to an 18th century pocket watch, allowing it to be worn as a wristwatch. Gaga Milano’s rising popularity has benefited from the favour of the sports star set, prompting the brand to pick 2011 Asian Cup MVP Keisuke Honda as its first international ‘poster boy’. The company recently opened its fourth boutique in Tokyo.

UGO CACCIATORI (Made in Italy)

"Most of us are not content just to eat; we want to eat well." This gem of a quote from jewellery designer Ugo Cacciatori, clearly a non-believer in minimalism, pretty much sums up his über-maximalist creations.
Growing up in Carrara, Italy, Cacciatori’s grandmother was a dressmaker, his aunt a milliner, and his grandfather (Benedetto Cacciatori) a well-known sculptor -- it was only natural that he would follow in his family’s creative footsteps. Starting out as a “minimalist architect”, it wasn’t long before the fashion world beckoned. In 2003, Cacciatori’s designs found their way to high-end stores in Europe and the United States, and today his jewellery and accessories are appreciated and worn by folks like Dita Von Teese, Karl Lagerfeld, Keith Richards, Madonna and Jay Z.

The look of Ugo Cacciatori’s baubles may be edgy, rocker-chic, and neogoth-glam (than Mum-approved!), but their mysterious aesthetic and the strength of the made-in-Italy craftsmanship shine through, drawing the attention of people who treasure the care and details of a luxury and eccentric handicraft.

(These selected jewellery styles from Ugo Cacciatori retail officially for between €275 and €332.)

Ugo Cacciatori at his showroom in New York.


Madonna sporting Ugo Cacciatori accessories as she sings about self-empowerment in the music video of "Jump".


In 2008, Ugo Cacciatori (seen here with Diesel boss Renzo Rosso) teamed up with Diesel to create an exclusive jewellery collection for the brand.