Growing up in the shoe capital of the world, designer Franco Sarto realized early in life that he was destined to become a shoe designer. Born in 1949 Sarto moved from his birthplace of Dolo, a small town outside Venice, to Stra, the center of shoe design in Italy. At Stra, Sarto first ventured into the business by opening his own studio with a co-designer, making their works available to the public for the first time.

With a background as a cobbler, Sarto’s knowledge of crafting footwear combined with an aesthetic awareness makes him a unique talent in the industry—one imbued with skills both in the technical and creative side. Renowned for his hand-drawn designs, every initial sketch translates into a truly comfortable work of art that appeals to fashionable women from around the world.

For his Fall/Winter 2010 collection, Sarto take inspiration from the streets of the world’s more stylish cities. “I’m always inspired to design for the stylish women I see on the streets in fashion capitals all over the world—Milan, New York and Paris,” says Sarto. “My fall collection is centered around this idea of urban chic—clean and sharp silhouettes, effortlessly chic and easy to wear.” The collection boasts of a classic color palette of cool grays, black, whiskey, taupe, stone and red for a pop of color.

Sarto’s latest designs marry tough with romantic elements. “I was heavily influenced by the military trend that we saw on Fall runways,” he explains. “Antiqued leathers and oiled suedes are applied to flat, ankle and over-the-knee boots with lacing detail or heavy hardware—zippers, buckles, and studs. Riding boots and oxfords pay homage to menswear, but with a vintage take.”  On the other hand, Sarto applies feminine elements to round-toe flats and platforms, by way of contoured detailing or touches of exotic prints and suedes.

“This balance of fashion, quality and wearability—this is what turns a shoe into a work of art.” With an eclectic selection to choose from, women can step into Sarto’s boot and oxford styles for a touch yet elegant look or slip into a pair of classic heels or flats for softer, feminine style.

In the Philippines, Franco Sarto is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 5, Eastwood Mall, SM Megamall Atrium, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Rustan’s Alabang.

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