Stefano Bemer may be the arguably most prominent Italian bespoke shoemaker in early 2000s. Even the great French bespoke shoemaker Stephane Jimenez said Stefano taught him very important things, not to mention Stefano Bemer studio nourished so many wonderful shoemakers such as Norman Vilalta. Let us have a look of his and his brand history.
1983年，Stefano Bemer lose his father in 1983, so he joined a leatherwork company which made purse, handbag and belt in Greve. Greve is a small in Tuscany region.
A local cobbler passed away and Stefano felt his knowledge about leather can hold this job. He then took over the shop and started cobbling. A wealthy gentleman appreciated his skill and showed him his collection of John Lobb St. James.
Stefano was shocked by the beauty and moved to Florence in 1986 apprenticing under an experienced shoemaker.
Stefano opened his own shop in 1987.
He liked to put his shoes into wooden wine box, and this is the original idea of Stefano Bemer iconic shoebox.
Unlike many Italian shoemakers, Stefano Bemer never makes private labels.
The pursuit of Stefano Bemer is balanced eye-catching.
Box calf is his favorite, because the most ordinary leather is hardest to be eye-catching and he can use his magic to achieve so.
The famous customers of Stefano Bemer include Andy Garcia, Gianfranco Ferré and Julio Iglesias。
But Stefano Bemer was only known in curated comminuties, untill the Oscar winner, English actor Daniel Day Lewis fell in love with his shoemaking and studied here for 10 months full time which gave great exposure to Stefano Bemer. Daniel owns more than 40 pairs of bespoke shoes from Stefano Bemer.
After his passing away in 2012, the owner of Scuola di Cuoio, best friend of Stefano Bemer, Tommaso Melani took the company and made it more successful on business.
Tommaso was very open and confessed he cannot afford bespoke service of Stefano Bemer and felt passionate about bringing Stefano Bemer to more customers who used to buy John Lobb and Edward Green.
Before Tommaso’s control, the annual volume of Stefano Bemer was 300 pairs, now it is 3000 pairs.
Not all shoes are made in Stefano Bemer studio, but some in a deserted church near Florence with 14 craftsmen. But all the leathers and raw materials are supplied by the studio.
Tommaso is very talented in business, and he made Stefano Bemer even more famous by offering the genuine Russia leather retrieved from shipwrecked and charged more than 11000 USD per pair.