Sandro Vicari: Heritage inspires the art of shoemaking.

Interview with Alessandra Vicari,  President and CEO of Sandro Vicari srl 

Sandro Vicari is a historical footwear company located in the Brenta Riviera, a district that is specific for the fact that almost all designer footwear present on markets throughout the world are entirely manufactured, and in part also designed, in the footwear companies of the area, with a production representing roughly 20.2% of the national footwear system and with exports of around 90%. Our company is no exception, producing for some large international groups, mainly French and American. We also have a small production with our own brand, Sandro Vicari, which we design, produce and then sell in the main world markets. Discover more: www.sandrovicari.it

Can you tell us what led to the collaboration with DANI?
We were put in contact by our main customer – an important French leatherware brand – which has always paid great attention to the sustainability of its product, through research and using, also for footwear, leather with high quality standards and compatible with a strict list of chemicals that are regulated and not harmful to humans and the environment.

Is there any particular reason why you chose to collaborate with DANI?
A sustainability development programme is currently underway also in our company. In the complex and diversified footwear supply chain, in which it is often difficult to trace sustainability parameters, it is important to have partners who guarantee some essential elements, who adopt production processes that offer environmental sustainability items, among other things. From the beginning we appreciated the company’s reliability and the product characteristics, which are perfectly in line with our corporate values and with the craftmanship and quality of our footwear. 

What are the strengths of DANI leather that won you over and have made the partnership last so long?
The quality and the large assortment of products, which indicate for competence, professionalism and precise knowledge of the market and its requirements. 

What do you think of leather alternatives?
Leather alternatives can be presented in the luxury footwear sector, but the collections cannot eliminate the use of leather. The search for alternative materials will without doubt advance in forthcoming years and all brands will try to add products made with materials with a lower environmental impact. However leather, which is primarily a by-product of the production of other sectors (leather is processed as a waste product of the food industry), has irreplaceable characteristics, such as softness, strength and breathability, and is by no means incompatible with sustainability, if treatment takes place in an ethical, responsible and environmentally friendly manner. 

Finally, how do you imagine the future of footwear?
Consumers, especially the younger generations, are undoubtedly showing increasing interest for more sustainable products. This increase in demand is accelerating the transition, moving towards biodiversity, circularity, without overlooking social agenda.  On the other hand, not everyone is willing to pay more for these products, and we cannot expect the industry to compensate for these problems by sacrificing economic return or deciding to make investments that are at times too costly. For this reason, in our sector, from the consumer’s viewpoint sustainability should translate into “buy less, buy better”, preferring the quality of the product and of the raw material and hence the duration, the life expectancy of the article. And from the company’s viewpoint, it will be brands that manage to combine environmental and economic sustainability that find themselves in a situation of competitive advantage and consequently will be rewarded by the market.