Threading Ferragamo's Future
ELLE Singapore|October 2019
The 91-year-old House of Salvatore Ferragamo is in the palms of Paul Andrew’s hands — but the creative director is first and foremost learning to be patient
Andrea Sim
Threading Ferragamo's Future

Paul Andrew is like that overachieving student who makes the rest of his class feel like they should pull up their socks. It also happens that the English designer is in the business of shoes. An alumnus of Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen and Donna Karan, Andrew first became a household name in fashion in 2012 with his eponymous footwear label, an endeavour that by 2016 earned him the role of design director of women’s footwear at Salvatore Ferragamo. A year later, the Florentine house had Andrew take charge of womenswear in its totality, and just this February, handed the 40-year-old the creative reigns of its entire domain — all these within two and a half years of Andrew’s arrival.

Blink, and you’ll have missed this meteoric rise that’s kept even industry insiders on their toes with Andrew’s ever-growing onus. It’s a leap that calls to mind Alessandro Michele’s trajectory from accessories maestro to head honcho at Gucci. Though while Michele inherited a Frida Giannini-steered ship, Andrew has to deal with another beast entirely, one that, up till recently, quite literally had three heads. A whistle-stop tour of the brand’s early days and recent history will put this in perspective.

For starters, the business founded by its namesake footwear designer Salvatore Ferragamo is longer just about shoes. After his passing in 1960, Salvatore’s wife and six children took over the company and introduced new elements to its lexicon; Ferragamo has put out leather accessories and ready-to-wear since 1965, and menswear since the ’70s. The house, previously wholly under the direction of Massimiliano Giornetti since 2011 (he was in charge of menswear prior), was perfectly polished, at times playful, and always exemplary of the brand’s leather expertise.

Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ELLE SINGAPORESe alt
Awakening After Adversity
ELLE Singapore

Awakening After Adversity

Author and wellness advocate JILL ALPHONSO says the one thing that breast cancer taught her was to prioritise herself-a lesson every young woman must learn.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
Miami Vibes
ELLE Singapore

Miami Vibes

Urban art, dreamy beaches, Latin flavour...find out why these have made MIAMI a sought-after destination.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
The Language Of Flowers
ELLE Singapore

The Language Of Flowers

Young designers are falling for the subversive power of a classic motif.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
The Joy Luck Club
ELLE Singapore

The Joy Luck Club

The duo behind YanYan takes play very seriously. Phyllis Chan and Suzzie Chung share how they are shaking up the world of knitwear while having absolute fun.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
Wild West
ELLE Singapore

Wild West

For its latest collection, WEEKEND MAX MARA teams up with American actress Lucy Hale to embrace the season's rustic charm.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
Men Of The Hour
ELLE Singapore

Men Of The Hour

Fresh off the success of their drama, 4MINUTES, Thai actors Bible Wichapas Sumettikul and Jespipat Tilapornputt are on the cusp of international stardom.

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Conquer The Day
ELLE Singapore

Conquer The Day

As a versatile everyday watch with panache, LONGINES' new Conquest collection gets the job done very nicely.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Woman On A Mission
ELLE Singapore

Woman On A Mission

Rebecca Lim may have taken a step back from showbiz to settle into her new role as first-time mum, but the actress wants everyone to know that they haven't seen the last of Becks. She talks to ELLE about reconciling motherhood and career.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
The Making Of An Icon
ELLE Singapore

The Making Of An Icon

"SHOUT, SHOUT, LET IT ALL OUT," sings Fann Wong as glittering creations from Buccellati are carefully put on her.

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Million Dollar Woman
ELLE Singapore

Million Dollar Woman

With her dazzling confidence and supermodel aura, GIGI HADID is the embodiment of Rabanne's new Million Gold For Her fragrance.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024