Our Story – Italian Luxury Footwear Since the 1950s

The Andrea Carrano Story

Andrea Carrano is an Italian luxury footwear brand with roots stretching back to World War II, when the founder first began crafting shoes in Italy at a time when fine footwear was both scarce and deeply coveted. His earliest creations were so prized that women willingly traded leather handbags for a pair of Carrano shoes — a testament to the quality and desirability he brought to his craft from the very first stitch.

From Naples to the World

Every Andrea Carrano shoe is still handmade in Naples, Italy, using locally sourced leather and the finest suede. The techniques passed down through generations — the careful lasting, the hand-stitching, the precise finishing — remain unchanged. What has changed is the reach. By 1962, a chain of boutiques had opened across Italy. In the late 1970s, Andrea's wife Betta joined the company and together they brought the Andrea Carrano name to Germany, Australia, the Virgin Islands, and dozens of markets worldwide. They opened flagship boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, and Bal Harbour, making Andrea Carrano one of the first Italian footwear brands to enter the American luxury market.

A Legacy in Italian Craftsmanship

Throughout the 1980s, Andrea Carrano's reputation for exceptional construction attracted collaborations with some of fashion's most iconic names. The brand produced and distributed footwear collections for Christian Dior, Krizia, Alberta Ferretti, Norma Kamali, and Sonia Bogner — a who's who of international couture. These partnerships solidified Andrea Carrano's standing not merely as a label, but as a master manufacturer behind the industry's finest shoes.

Handmade in Italy. Worn Around the World.

Today, Andrea Carrano, Jr. carries his father's legacy forward with the same devotion to materials and construction that defined the brand from the start. Each pair of moccasins, ballet flats, heels, and boots is made entirely in Italy — no shortcuts, no outsourcing. The suede is buttery and rich. The leather is sourced locally in Naples. The silhouettes balance timeless elegance with modern wearability.

Andrea Carrano shoes are now sold directly to customers worldwide, eliminating the wholesale markups of the past and making Italian luxury craftsmanship accessible to the women who love it most. Over sixty years after the first pair was made, the standard has not changed: every shoe is a handmade object of lasting quality, built in Italy and built to last.

Why Andrea Carrano?

  • Handmade in Naples, Italy — every pair, without exception
  • Locally sourced leather and suede — no synthetic shortcuts
  • Over 60 years of Italian craftsmanship — founded during the post-war era
  • Signature styles: moccasins, ballet flats, heels, boots, and loafers
  • Designer heritage: production credits include Christian Dior and Alberta Ferretti
  • Direct to consumer — genuine Italian luxury at honest prices