EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH ALFREDO PIFERI, THE CREATOR OF INCREDIBLY COOL SUSTAINABLE SHOES

Luxury beyond leather is the mantra at Piferi, an Italian footwear brand that is rapidly scaling the ladder of global success with high-end animal-free vegan collections. Born from a mission to change the perception of leather-free footwear, the shoes are handmade in Parabiago, just outside Milan. Combining design and timeless values, tradition and innovation, Piferi’s pumps, boots, sandals, cutaway mules and flats underscore how beautiful, sensual and modern luxury shoes with intricate details can be animal-free and environmentally friendly.;The line is available in our new Sant’Andrea store. Here; our exclusive interview with founder Alfredo Piferi: ; Please share some insight into your background and when and why you decided to establish your company. ; I started at Valentino as an intern in menswear after my course of studies so a love for shoes surprised me. I became increasingly attracted to footwear until I joined Versace, my first shoe job. Shoes became an obsession. Most recently, I was Head of Design for Jimmy Choo, a position I held for five years until launching Piferi in 2020. ; Which are the most recurring sustainable materials you use for the collections? ; The Bio Vegan Nappa and lining comprises 48% bio polyols derived from non-food and GMO-free field corn and our buttery soft Vegan suede, made using 100% recycled PET. Every Piferi insole is made using 100% pure cellulose from suppliers certified by the FSC, which promotes the responsible management of the world's forests. All our heels are crafted from Recycled ABS: a recycled plastic compound that is also widely considered more durable, longer-lasting, and easier to recycle than PVC. ; Is there any difference in crafting vegan materials versus leather when manufacturing high-end footwear? ; Yes, many. First of all, you can't use heat to fix imperfections, so the shoes need to be perfect. And there are many alternative components to consider, down to glue, which often contains animal fat or solvents, obviously not in our case.; ; What is your design mantra, and which are the bestsellers? ; I strive for simple, streamlined, and balanced silhouettes that are less tied to seasonal trends but closer to long-lasting style. I am intrigued by the architectural side of shoe design: Surrealism and architecture influence my vision, inspiring my work from conception to creation. Heels are our main signatures, especially the best-selling curved "Dali" heel and the new straight comma heel. In terms of bestsellers, I would say the Fade sandal, the Ursula 100 Mesh whose soft net design is like lingerie for the foot, and the Merlin 100 boot, a closet staple that can be worn with eccentric, sophisticated, or timeless pieces. ; I understand the "soquette" is a brand signature. What inspired this design and how has it evolved? ; The Soquette, which sits on the Fantasia and Ginevra style, was inspired by the dancing flowers in the Disney Fantasia film. The first version was cartoony and fun while the second edition became more sensual and sexy, with the hand-knitted raffia frill and a front corset.; ; Is there a specific type of consumer or age range that is more eager to buy luxe vegan accessories? ; When a luxury customer approaches luxury designs, they go for the aesthetics. Consumers connect to my designs, not necessarily because [they are] leather-free. The shoes must look appealing, desirable, wearable, comfortable, and also leather-free. This principle makes our audience much broader than only vegan customers. There was a massive gap for this kind of product, and I wanted to offer the customers the luxury of choice. ; Plans for the future?; To keep expanding the brand in a sustainable and measured way while tapping into different categories. I would love to see Piferi evolve into a lifestyle brand.