Via Spiga

Via Spiga is a fashion brand that has been known for its sophisticated and high-quality footwear. The brand was established in 1985, taking its name from one of Milan's most fashionable streets, Via della Spiga. It quickly found success with Italian-made pumps designed for office wear and evening occasions. Over the years, Via Spiga has experienced a series of acquisitions, with the most significant change occurring in 2005 when Brown Shoe Co. took over the brand. This acquisition marked a new direction for Via Spiga, as the company aimed to reconnect with its Italian roots and reposition itself in the bridge market.

The brand's journey has been characterized by a commitment to mixing things up while maintaining a loyal following for its day-to-night shoes. The creative direction of the brand has been pivotal in this process. In 2009, Paola Venturi, a footwear veteran with experience at Sergio Rossi, Calvin Klein, and Kate Spade, was recruited as the creative director to oversee the women's offerings and drive the collection's cohesion. Her role extended beyond footwear to include working with accessories licensees and ensuring the construction of products presented a unified Via Spiga lifestyle.

Venturi's approach to design has been to stay true to the brand's origins while introducing edgier styles and expanding the product range. This includes espadrilles, fashionable sneakers, sandals, and towering platforms. The brand's aesthetic is centered around the use of quality materials and a tailored look, aiming to elevate the collection, which ranges in price from $175 to $395. Despite production moving away from Italy, the design and sourcing remain rooted there, with a focus on sophisticated design efforts.

Today, Via Spiga continues to evolve, building relationships with licensees, formulating a clear message about its lifestyle, and making inroads with factories in China and Brazil, where production is split between the two countries. The brand's commitment to its Italian heritage and sophisticated design remains at the core of its identity, as it seeks to offer customers a range of choices that hit the mark in every category.