North-South synergies: a friulan company relaunches ‘Cesare Firrao’ brand, calabrian excellence in footwear

 
by FdS Editorial Staff

The shoe factory “Cesare Firrao”, in Luzzi (Cosenza), is one of Calabria’s top excellences. Altomare brothers founded it more than forty years ago, when they returned to their home country after being emigrated in Switzerland. Since forever, this shoe factory stood out in the production of high quality footwear for men. It is for this reason that the company has been recognised internationally by its brand “Cesare Firrao”.

Cesare Firrao became soon a synonym for crafted handmade shoes, gaining consumers’ confidence all over the world, including also Italian and international stars, politicians, journalists and opinion leaders. Although the company has been inactive for two years due to the fluctuating market.

Alba 94, a Friuli Venezia Giulia group, has fortunately decided to invest in production activities and services provision in various Italian regions – especially in Calabria – and has rented the shoe factory historic lab, and Cesare Firrao brand too, to help the company to revive its business.

The goal of the new entrepreneurs is ensuring the employment to homegrown workforce, restoring artisanship to produce quality footwear as the tradition of Cesare Firrao family requires, keeping alive a company that has represented the town of Luzzi in the world, and Calabria as well. Furthermore, the wealth of knowledge, dexterity, gestures and history cannot be lost.

The revival of the historic brand on the Italian and international markets has already begun. For example, the next June Cesare Firrao brand will participate to Pitti Uomo edition, an international fair that is held every year in Florence, or the partnership with Udinese football team, and the restoration of the commercial network, but above all the next opening of the company store. It will be again a point of reference for all old fans and for those who would like to know and wear high quality shoes.

The study of new collections is already started. They will consider the new customers and markets demands keeping intact the characteristics of Cesare Firrao brand, and preserving its methods of artisanship. The production will begin in January, therefore in this period the style office is engaged in researches of shapes, patterns, leathers, colors, and material combinations.

What is noteworthy is that after many years two members of the family Altomare return to the shoe factory, Werner and Vinicio. They will try to continue the path that their father Battista started with his brothers, Luciano and Mario.

On the 12th December, the shoe factory officially reopen. There will be many guests including the bishop of Cosenza-Bisignano, the newly elected President of the Region and the regional councillors, the mayor of Luzzi and other authorities. The invitation was sent to the President of the Council of Ministers too.

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