Scarpa has crafted its first-ever New Zealand-designed in-house collection handmade in Tuscany, launching Thursday, the 20th of April.
Designer and Co-Owner, Liz Savage shared that at Scarpa, they had been fortunate to bring many exclusive brands to New Zealand for the first time, which had inspired the company and given Savage insight into what styles are best received by their clientele.
Furthermore, Savage revealed that Liz and Pip’s sisterhood had always inspired Scrapa. Savage shared that their family, coupled with all the women in the fashion footwear industry and the company’s loyal clientele, were considered part of Scarpa’s sisterhood.
“We have taken this inspiration and designed a seasonal capsule collection that encompasses the perfect hero pieces that are the building blocks to a stylish women's footwear wardrobe,” stated Savage.
Savage shared that the team at Scarpa had been working on this collection for the past year with a primary focus on the collection, including ‘must-have’ items for the winter season.
The designer shared that the company’s extensive experience in sourcing and selling to the New Zealand market meant that the company could use this knowledge to decide which styles were popular and n high rotation for every occasion within a customer's lives. This includes classic shoes such as everyday Chelsea and combat boots, classic loafers, to timeless pumps.
For the new collection, the designer ensured they were using soft and sustainably sourced Italian leather and the highest quality componentry to which Scarpa is known and its clientele is accustomed.
Scarpa has incorporated signature Italian craftsmanship techniques in its collection, including ‘sachetto’ construction on finer loafers, which adds incredible comfort.
“We also used ‘intrecciato’, which is the technique of hand-weaving the leather and adds a stunning point of difference to our designs.”
When discussing Scarpa’s target audience for its new collection, Savage shared that she hoped that all stylish women would love the collection. Furthermore, Savage shared that while the company had worked with luxurious designers, the brand wanted to create a capsule collection that appealed to all.
Savage described the new cohesive collection as being carefully curated to include the essential items women need in fashion footwear, which can also complement Scarpa’s specialised existing range in-store.
With the advantage of previewing designer collections ahead of time, Savage had noticed trends towards finer loafer styles, pumps and boots. These popular footwear aesthetics often were worn in balance with easy-to-wear casual looks, which have been prominent and popular the last couple of years following the pandemic.
“We are excited to showcase the most exquisite crushed metallic pink leather, which we’ve added in our slingback pumps and strappy heeled sandals-bringing back a touch of glamour that our customers have been wanting.”
When touching on sustainability, Savage stated that it was important for Scarpa to work closely with a small, family-owned in Tuscany, Italy, for its new collection.
Scarpa’s long lineage of buying and sourcing from the best shoemakers in the industry has led to the company developing lifelong friendships. Therefore, it was a natural progression for Scarpa to create its brand.
Savage added that many had said it would be impossible to create a high-quality brand, design, and craftsmanship while being handmade in Italy and value for money. However, Scarpa has been able to do just that. Each item from Scarpa is made entirely by hand to ensure minimal waste, and the company commits itself to using sustainably sourced leathers and componentry.
Savage shared that her favourite from the new collection was the Scarpa range of sleek, everyday ‘Sloan’ loafers with its sculptural heel and incredible crushed pink metallic ‘Gem’ slingback offering a modern update on the enduring look.
