Since 1952, when a dreaming businessman and his cart full of handmade slippers took a spot on the historic Rialto Bridge, Piedàterre is the original and authentic Venetian slipper ‘Friulane’ specialists, pouring decades of Italian ingenuity and world-class craftsmanship into their artisan velvet shoes. Each pair is still handmade in the homes of their community of craftspeople and continues to be one of the most enduring icons of la dolce vita. The traditional Venetian slipper was born in the 19th Century north of Veneto, in Friuli, where, during a period of post-war necessity, Italian families began to stitch together sumptuous velvet curtains from closed theatres and flattened bicycle tyres to make new shoes with genius and flair. Though resourceful, the slippers were beautiful works of craftsmanship, stitched passionately by the region’s women with precision, skill and purpose to put shoes on the feet of their neighbours and loved ones. Today Piedàterre slippers are a symbol of la dolce vita across the world, bringing understated chic and a timeless sensibility to contemporary wardrobes from Piazza San Marco aperitivos to New York red carpets and Amalfi Coast sunsets. Each pair is unique, crafted to the highest quality from 100% natural cotton velvet and hand-stitched by their unique network of Italian craftspeople.