Going without means anything but missing out – as the young Italian label L’F Shoes has successfully proved. Standing behind this mnemonic name is creative pair, Licia Florio (L) and Francio Ferrari (F), who founded their own label in Piedmont, north Italy, in 2010.
The fashion design graduate and her artist and photographer partner have made it their mission to inject a touch of irony to traditional Italian shoe artisanry. They primarily manufacture unisex styles, all of which do away with laces and tongues – converting traditional brogues into slip-ons instantaneously. If this idea sounds minimalistic, it is, in fact, an inexhaustible pool of creativity. What Florio and Ferrari save on the fabric, they more than make up for with materials and colours. They experiment with pink glitter, shimmering silver and colourful seaside prints. Cork, vinyl, chunky plateaux, gaudy splashes of colour and striking soles turn every L’F shoe into a true statement. Courage has paid off for both of the shoe designers: their designs are not only featured regularly in the Italian Vogue, but they have also teamed up with hip fashion labels like MSGM and Camo, who appreciate the unconventional and refreshing approach to shoe design. Just as much as their customers do. Some 70 stores around the globe stock L’F Shoes, including large department stores, online shops and luxury boutiques. Which just goes to prove that going without sometimes does make us a whole lot better off.
www.lfshoes.com
