What really happens behind a shoe signed by Alberto Ciaschini

What really happens behind a Ciaschini-signed shoe

HI,
I'm Alberto.

I know that from the outside a shoe may seem simple: leather, heel, some well-made stitching and off you go.
But trust me, that's not exactly how it works. At least not in my world.

In my world, every shoe has days of work behind it, dozens of decisions, and often even some doubts (yes, even after twenty years of doing it). Because there is no button to press and voilà, the shoe is done. Instead, there is a process full of people, hands, tools, trials, errors, adjustments. There is craftsmanship.

It all starts with something a little banal: an idea

Sometimes it's a heel that comes to mind while I'm out and about. Other times, a detail that I dream about at night (don't laugh, it really happens).
Then my head starts: I take a sheet of paper, I sketch, I erase, I redo.
But the key step is always the same: understanding if that idea makes sense on a real woman, not just on a drawing.

Because I care that whoever wears my shoes feels strong, elegant, comfortable, free.
If I can't do it, even if the drawing is beautiful... it's worth nothing.

From drawing to prototype: and here the pain begins

Once the idea is sketched out, the longest part begins.
The prototype. We always do it here in Lombardy, in the shoe factory where I work with people I have known all my life.
There aren't many of us, and each one has a very specific task. But the nice thing is that we compare ourselves. Always. If something doesn't add up, we tell each other. We don't go forward lightheartedly.

Often the first prototype is not right. Maybe the line is beautiful but it doesn’t fit well. Or maybe the heel holds, but aesthetically it is “wrong”. You look at each other, you sigh, and you start again.
It's part of the game. In fact, it is the game.

The choice of materials: there's no cheating here

The skin must be the right one. Not only beautiful, but also alive, soft, resistant.
I never buy materials randomly. I choose them one by one, with patience.
And when a new sample arrives, I look at it, touch it, bend it, even smell it.
Because if your skin is good, you can recognize it like this too.

The linings, the soles, the heels (mine have a story of their own) — everything is checked.
And if something doesn't convince me, it's discarded. Even if it costs. Even if it takes longer.
I'd rather say "let's delay" than put out a shoe that doesn't really represent what I believe in.

There is no assembly line, there is a team

Each pair of shoes passes through several hands. There are those who cut, those who assemble, those who finish.
Everyone adds their touch, their eye. This is what makes each Ciaschini shoe a little different.
She's not perfect. She's alive .

And it's not magic. It's craft.

What I learned by observing, by making mistakes, by listening to those who knew more than me.
And I still do that today. Every day, even now that my name is on the product.

Why all this?

Because I want my shoes to not only look good, but also feel good to wear.
Right for those who choose to walk there. For those who stand in front of the mirror and say: “Okay, today I’m going. And I’ll do it my way.”

Well, if I can convey even a little bit of that, then maybe it's worth it.

See you soon 😉
Alberto

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FAQ

Q: But is it true that your shoes are all handmade?
A: Yes. Every step is done by real, expert hands. We use some machines, of course, but never to replace the artisan work. Only to support it where necessary.

Q: How long does it take to make a Ciaschini shoe?
A: It depends on the model. Let's say that between design, prototype and production, a new shoe can take up to two months.

Q: Are all the materials Italian?
A: Yes. Leather, soles, linings... we work with local suppliers that we have known for a long time. It's a choice, not a trend.

Q: Can the shoes be customized?
A: Not yet systematically, but we are studying something. Every now and then a client writes to us and, if we can, we are happy to do so.