CESARE PACIOTTI

Armed with a unique and futuristic creative vision, Cesare Paciotti has used his small family firm as a vehicle to launch collections that have seduced international stars as well as a select and cosmopolitan public. He has made his name for himself as a charismatic designer with a recognisable gritty glam rock style.

CESARE PACIOTTI was born in Civitanova Marche, an area with a long history of shoemaking. His parents Cecilia and Giuseppe ran a family business producing hand-made shoes and this was Cesare's real home. Even as a very young child, he “breathed” the aroma of leather hides, making sketches and prototypes and gaining mastery of his craft by learning from expert hands... a priceless inheritance.

Once he had completed his classical education, and driven by the desire to refine his artistic talent and pursue his passion for music, Cesare took a bachelor's degree at the renowned DAMS university in Bologna.

Following numerous trips all over the world, in 1980 Cesare released his first collection of shoes. The collection was immediately a huge success, paving the way for his long and extraordinary career as a fashion designer. Celebrities from all over the world, such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Bar Refaeli, Anne Hathaway, Taylor Swift, Sienna Miller, Miranda Kerr and many others, wanted his creations on their feet. This led to close friendships and exclusive collaborations with the stars.

The Company

In 1948 Giuseppe and Cecilia Paciotti founded a craft shoe-making business, producing a classical range of shoes made entirely by hand. They paid particular attention to details and used high quality materials. These two master craftsmen turned their profession into a passion for their children, Paola and Cesare.

In 1980 the two siblings set up Paciotti S.p.A. and created their first collection under the brand name Cesare Paciotti. Thanks to Paola's wise management and Cesare's creativity, the company quickly gained notoriety, so much so that prestigious fashion houses such as Gianni Versace, Romeo Gigli and Dolce Gabbana, asked them to craft their shoes.

Drawing on a wealth of experience and a consolidated artistic maturity, in 1990, Cesare revolutionised the image of the Paciotti women's collection, which until then was limited to a few items with a masculine appearance. He introduced the vertiginous and highly recognisable stiletto heel, creating extremely feminine shoes allowing for a sensual walk.

The Brand
An anti-conformist brand that broke the rules of contemporary fashion with its very first collection, creating not only simple, ordinary shoes, but also real high-fashion items with precious embroidery and refined accessories.

Paciotti introduced new ideas in communication as well, as it was the first company to change the way shoes are advertised. No longer were shoes photographed as inanimate still life objects, they became real items of clothing on the feet of international top models such as Natalia Vojnovic, Lily Donaldson, Bianca Balti, Anja Rubik, Isabeli Fontana, Anouck Lepere, Karen Mulder, Carla Bruni and many others. The enchanting and glamorous settings of the shoots were immortalised by prestigious international photographers such as Ellen Von Unwerth, Terry Richardson, Mario Sorrenti and Steven Meisel.

The brand's strong personality is symbolised by the dagger, whose hilt bears the designer's initials creating an unmistakable logo for the maison.