Dancing Through Life

Ahead of Aquazzura's India launch, founder Edgardo Osorio talks about blending comfort and style.

- RASNA BHASIN

When Edgardo Osorio founded Aquazzura over a decade ago, he set out with a simple mission: To create shoes that combine beauty with comfort. But the inspiration behind the brand goes beyond just footwear. It’s rooted in Osorio’s love for dance, his frustration with existing designs, and his deep understanding of what women truly want from their shoes.

I first discovered Aquazzura in 2017 when an aunt gifted me a card to Luisa Via Roma. As I scrolled through the site, a pair of nude heels with delicate tie-up straps immediately caught my eye. Instantly, I knew we were meant to be. As a self-proclaimed shopaholic, shoes are always at the top of my list, and these heels have since danced the night away with me countless times.

Fast forward to today, and I find myself sitting across Osorio at Milan Fashion Week, just days before Aquazzura opens its first store in India. Naturally, I’m curious about what has taken so long for the brand to establish itself there.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Osorio says with a knowing smile. “We’ve always had our eye on India, but the timing and location needed to align. Now feels perfect. There’s a growing appetite for luxury, and Aquazzura’s aesthetic—timeless yet modern—resonates with today’s consumer.”

When I ask him about the inspiration behind the brand, Osorio’s eyes light up with the excitement of someone who’s passionate about their craft. “I’ve always loved to dance,” he says, recalling a summer before starting his brand when he attended nearly a dozen weddings. “I was always the first to hit the dance floor and the last to leave.” But it wasn’t just the fun of dancing that made an impact; it was the discomfort that came with wearing poorly designed shoes. “After a few hours, your feet start to hurt, right? But what shocked me was the pain after just 30 minutes. I thought, if a shoe makes you feel that bad so quickly, something’s wrong.”