Unmissable: the ‘Salvatore Ferragamo 1898-1960’ exhibition in Florence

The “Salvatore Ferragamo 1898-1960” exhibition currently on show at Palazzo Spini Ferroni in Florence is as important as it is a pleasant surprise.
It is the richest and most comprehensive exhibition about him that has ever existed.

The occasion is the centenary of the opening of his first store, the ‘Hollywood Boots Shop‘.
A photo of this first store, cut out of a newspaper and kept by Salvatore himself, is also on display.
The exhibition also recalls the first Salvatore Ferragamo retrospective, held in 1985 at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, at a time when fashion exhibitions were not common.

This retrospective was the first exhibition dedicated to a “creator” rather than an artist.
On this occasion, 202 shoes were exhibited as if they were true works of art.
This groundbreaking exhibition was so successful that it became a traveling exhibition.
It was shown at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1987 and later in Los Angeles, Mexico City and Tokyo.

The current exhibition in Florence is the result of extensive research in which archivists, costume and fashion historians have reconstructed the most important stages in the life of the “Schumacher who made dreams come true” through original documents, photographs and objects.
His birth at the end of the 19th century in a small village in Irpinia, his ordination in Hollywood, his relationships with both world stars and local Florentine craftsmen.
In Florence, he found the ideal place and the artisans capable of producing high quality shoes according to his specifications.
It was here that he opened his first workshop with a group of shoemakers, where they carried out artisanal production with an almost industrial organization.
Florence is a city where the artisan tradition is deeply rooted.
Even in the medieval workshops, skill, ingenuity and specialization were highly valued and passed down from generation to generation.
It was on this fertile ground that the world-traveling shoemaker was welcomed and understood.

The exhibition shows him presenting a model to a very young Audrey Hepburn or Sofia Loren wearing the shoes he made.
Images from his professional history intersect with his private life.
Iconic creations, inspirations and patents alternate with images of Marylin Monroe, Humprie Bogart and many other celebrities who have appreciated the history of Salvatore Ferragamo costume and Italian creativity.

The exhibition runs until November 4, 2024, and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Admission: 8 €
Free for under 18s and over 65