Perugia

André (1893-1977). French shoemaker of Italian origins. One of the first stars of European footwear. He started working in his father’s shop at a very young age, and was noticed at once for his striking creativity. The owner of Nice’s best known hotel, the Negresco, introduced him into high society and brought about his initial success. He moved to Paris in 1920 and opened an atelier in Faubourg Saint-Honoré, working with the most famous dressmakers of the time, particularly Poiret. He is renowned for his high heels and his ability in coupling different materials like chamois and kid, leather and silk. He designed styles inspired by Picasso and Braque for Charles Jourdan. In the 1950s he abandoned made-to-measure shoemaking and moved into mass production with the Perugia Boutique label in partnership with Franµois Villon. Sadly, the project soon ended in failure.