As one of the leading voices in traditional and contemporary shoemaking, Alberto Fasciani talks to us about his Italian shoemaking, innovative design, and why he created a vegan friendly collection.
There are some things that Italians do very, very well. The riding boot is one of those things.
Italy’s influence on equestrian fashion cannot be understated. Just as Gucci built an empire inspired on equestrian bit motifs, the grandeur of the Italian-made riding boot has become a barometer for style that goes well beyond the tack room.
Italian luxury label Alberto Fasciani produces technical boots with a difference. The brand, fronted by equestrian Alberto Fasciani is renowned for its signature combination of Italian opulence with an edgy yet sophisticated aesthetic.
Each hand-crafted pair of boots is the result of decades of research, knowledge, and testing and a long family history of artisan shoemaking.
A Family Affair
Franco Fasciani (Alberto’s father) established his shoemaking business in 1950 in the village of Fermo, near Italy’s Adriatic Sea.
Fermo, a village that is synonymous with shoemaking is home to many distinguished brands that represent Italian style throughout the world.
In the mid-80s when Alberto took over his father’s business, he evolved into an Italian equestrian brand inspired by traditional English heritage and Italian innovation, designing a collection of technical boots that were hard-wearing enough to tackle any equestrian discipline, but with no compromise in style and aesthetic.
First, he targeted the showjumping world, then polo riders (offering an alternative to popular Argentinian boots), and finally the dressage world. The brand quickly gained a cult-like following and is well established not only in Italy, but also abroad.
An Evolving Industry
The equestrian market in Italy has changed dramatically during the last decade and brands like Alberto Fasciani have had to adapt and evolve at every turn.
“Innovation and a genuine passion for equestrian sport is still at the core of everything that I put my name too. Our growing customer base is more international than ever right now thanks to our reputation for consistently producing high-quality footwear.” Fasciani tells me.
Italian Made
“Italian craftmanship cannot be imitated because we (Italians) have spent thousands of years perfecting the art of shoemaking. I endorse the Made in Italy certification because it protects these values that I hold so close to my heart.”
The workers in our small workshop operate in strict observance of the rules and criteria of traditional artisan methods. All our products are meticulously crafted from premium materials and are designed and field-tested on premise.”
Vegan Friendly Footwear
“Some of my long-term customers requested a vegan alternative to leather riding boots. So, that got me thinking. I sought out information on how best to construct high-quality footwear that did not contain any animal products and set to work. It was an exacting task, and one that required considerable research- but the result (the Green Soul Collection) was worth it.”
Each model is made with wind-resistant, weatherproof, and moisture-wicking materials. They can be machine washed (on cold) whenever they need freshening up too.
The Freetime equestrian sneaker was designed to be good to your feet, and to the planet. Half casual and half boot -these vegan sneaker hybrids have a chunky reinforced rubber heel that ensures you feel good as well as look good. Best of all, they are machine washable, so no matter the conditions you’re working or riding in, these stylish kicks will last you for years.”
Check out Alberto Fasciani’s “Green Collection” here
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