What does it take to keep a half-century-old shoe line relevant in today’s fickle fashion market? A collaboration with beyond-hip New York fashion designer Prabal Gurung helps. So do devotees famous enough to require only one name (Beyoncé, Madonna and Gaga). Perhaps most key is the courage to retire dated styles that first made the brand famous and experiment with provocative new designs.
Italian shoe line Casadei, which has been wrapping women’s heels in luxe materials since 1958, is still going strong, thanks to all of the above and a strong sense of heritage.
“I lived and grew up in a shoe factory — shoes have been part of my life since day one,” says creative director Cesare Casadei.
His parents, Quinto and Flora, founded the shoe line in the small town of San Mauro Pascoli, where they were renowned for their hand-embroidered sandals. By the time Cesare took the helm, over-the-top, stacked platforms emerged as the company’s signature style. But the scion shook up the brand aesthetic with his spring 2014 collection, eliminating platform shoes altogether.
The dramatic label refresh seems to have paid off, with Casadei’s latest signature “Blade” pump starring on the feet of fashion’s A-list.
“For me, this is the perfect combination of elegance and design,” he says of the pumps. “I love the contrast between the sharp razor blade heel and the material of the shoe.”
Another perfect complement is Casadei’s collaboration with Gurung, a partnership that began two years ago and has led to a swell of Casadei steps on runways and red carpets. (Beyoncé recently laced up his red suede over-the-knee boots for her “Mrs. Carter Show” tour and Madonna rocked Casadei pumps at this year’s Met Ball.)
He says his collection is “for all the women in the world who are not afraid to take center stage.”
In that vein, Casadei just released limited-edition, Moroccan Berber-inspired heels for the holiday season. The strappy suede sandals feature sumptuous red butterflies drenched in Swarovski crystals and are available exclusively on casadei.com.
The designer is also plotting more boutiques in Beijing and Shanghai. “My plans for the future are always the same,” he notes. “Evolve, expand and continue to fuel my passion — women’s shoes.”