From the essence of our Venetian heritage to every hand-stitched sole, the soul of Piedàterre is steeped in a purely Italian authenticity. We are the original specialists of the handcrafted Italian shoes known as “Friulane”, the iconic Venetian footwear: into every creation we pour decades of ingenuity, the nobility of our artisanal velvet and a world-class mastery. It is a promise of excellence we have renewed since 1952, when the first cart took its place on the legendary Rialto Bridge.
From Raw Materials to Finished Shoe
Our promise of authenticity rests on a 100% Italian supply chain free of compromise, where the pursuit of perfection begins at the fibre and is fulfilled through direct oversight of every single step. We supervise each detail and source exclusively premium raw materials that lend our artisanal footwear an organic lustre and an extraordinarily soft hand. We categorically refuse any form of outsourcing: from the weaving of our artisanal velvet to cutting and the meticulous final stitching, every phase follows a protocol that rejects haste in favour of absolute dedication.
Our end-to-end control, from the heritage rubber sole to the most refined fabrics, guarantees superior quality and colour stability that admits no variation, allowing you to rediscover the same flawless excellence time after time.
It is this production consistency, coupled with attention to every detail, that represents the true hallmark of our Made in Italy and the only path to handcrafted Italian shoes of inimitable calibre.
Materials of Excellence
The pursuit of perfection begins at the fibre. We produce our exquisite velvets in-house, developing exclusive colour palettes and ensuring an unrivalled quality of materials. 100% natural cotton velvet is the heart of our footwear, from women’s to men’s styles: breathable, noble to the touch and extraordinarily resilient.
Every fabric is engineered to deliver matchless comfort that accompanies every step. Our shoes are stitched entirely by hand, without the use of industrial adhesives, following techniques passed down through generations with pride. It is an authentic luxury you feel at first contact, far beyond mere appearance.
The Master Artisan and the Secret of the Fit
The secret behind our impeccable fit and the legendary comfort that sets us apart is not the fruit of chance — it resides in the expertise and technical heritage of a true master: Vittorino Rigato. For twenty years the creative force behind every last for Yves Saint Laurent and President of the Italian Footwear Guild, Vittorino has devoted his life to deciphering the anatomy of the foot. His genius translates into the meticulous creation of prototypes, sculpted and refined ceaselessly until they reach an ideal equilibrium between wearability and postural well-being.
This is not mere comfort, but a meticulous synthesis of aesthetics and function, where the knowledge of international haute couture merges with the Venetian tradition to create a fit that envelops the foot as naturally as a second skin, establishing a standard of comfort beyond comparison. It is thanks to this mastery and technical expertise that every handmade pair of our velvet Friulane stands apart from any imitation.
Artisans Trained for Excellence
From the nobility of Bevilacqua velvet to the natural rubber sole, every component is a tile in a historical truth: that of an Italian craftsmanship capable of honouring its roots while projecting them into the contemporary. This is a legacy we have protected since 1952, one that finds its natural stage in our historic Venetian workshops — places where tradition is not a memory, but a living present.
Explore the full men’s and women’s collection and experience the only true artisanal Made in Italy.
Our footwear is not the product of conventional manufacturing; it takes shape in an area devoted exclusively to Piedàterre, where knowledge is passed down through practice and unwavering dedication. Every artisan is trained internally through a rigorous specialisation programme that requires months of learning — time that is indispensable to mastering manual techniques the global market has long forgotten. This investment in talent and absolute control over craftsmanship allows us to affirm that a pair of Piedàterre is not simply “handmade”, but the fulfilment of an authorial expertise that elevates every shoe to an unrepeatable masterpiece.
