Description

Gatto is a legend in the world of shoemaking​​,​​ forming the holy trinity of bespoke shoes along with John Lobb and Tuczek. Beginning in 1899​​,​​ his first exploit was to send a pair of boots to the Duke of Palma : Giulio Tomasi di Lampedusa​​,​​ father of the renowned writer of the Leopard (Il Gattopardo)​​,​​ Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The Duke loved these shoes so much he became a regular customer and introduced Gatto to the royal family and the best shoemakers in Europe to work with. He finally opened his own bespoke shop in Rome​​,​​ Via Antonio Salandra. Almost all the crown princes of Europe wore his shoes​,​​ and Angelo Gatto himself will be knighted in 1926 by the King Of Italy​​,​​ and he became the official shoemaker of the Crown. His reputation only grew during the heydays of the Cinecittà​​,​​ thanks to numerous celebrities that sought his shoes. Some of his clients included actors like Marcello Mastroianni​​,​​ Marlon Brando or Gregory Peck​​,​​ directors like Vittorio De Sica and Pier Paolo Pasolini​​,​​ tycoons like Aristote Onassis and Gianni Agnelli​​,​​ and politicians like the Kennedys. In France​​,​​ Alain Delon owned several pairs of Gatto during his years working with Luchino Visconti​​,​​ while writer Jean d'Ormesson is said to have spent almost all his money on two things: sport cars and Gatto shoes. When Angelo Gatto passed away in 1974​​,​​ his nephew Giuseppe took over with the help of lastmaker Gaetano Vastola who worked for Angelo since 1953. They continued their craft​​,​​ and attracted a new clientele of captain of industries and heads of state. When Giuseppe passed in 1993​​,​​ his son Enzo along with Peppino Gatto and Gaetano Vastola continued on. However due to their respective age​​,​​ they didn't accept new clients unless they wanted to make at least six pairs on their first order. In 2006​​,​​ they decided to sell the shop to Silvano Lattanzi​​,​​ another famous shoemaker based in Milan. Unfortunately​​,​​ everything from Gatto is now gone​​,​​ except for a small plaque at the entrance of the old shop Via Salandra. I propose one example of Gatto's excellent work: a brown suede full-brogue single monkstrap. It is the perfect pair for spring and summer​,​​ with a variety of trousers (white​​,​​ tan​​,​​ light blue​​,​​ light grey​​,​​ and pastel coloured chinos). As always with Gatto​​,​​ everything is done by hand​​,​​ from the stitching of the upper to the soles. It even includes a delicate gold buckle with Gatto carved onto it. You cannot find such level of craft these days. Gatto's name is stamped on the sole. The seamless heel is perfectly executed with no space between the welt and the upper. The bespoke shoetrees are included as well. The condition is excellent​​,​​ almost like new. The size is similar to a 8​​,​​5UK​​/​​42​​,​​5EU. Check the measurements below to be sure it fits you: - Length of the left shoe: 29​​​,​​​9cm - Length of the inside left shoe: 28​,​2cm - Width of the left shoe: 10​​​,​4cm - Length of the right shoe: 29​​​,​​​9cm - Length of the inside right shoe: 28​,​3cm - Width of the right shoe: 10​,​5cm The quality is equivalent to the following bespoke houses: - In England: John Lobb Ltd Bootmaker​​​,​​​ Nikolaus Tuczek​​​,​​​ George Cleverley​​​,​​​ Dominic Casey​​,​​ Foster & Son​​,​​ Gaziano & Girling​​,​​ Henri Maxwell​ - In Italy: Stefano Bemer​​,​​ Ricardo Freccia Bestetti​​,​​ Marini​​,​​ Pettrocchi​​,​​ Beppino Rampin​​,​​ Roberto Ugolini​​,​​ - In France: Aubercy​​​,​​​ Berluti​​,​​ Corthay​​​,​​​ John Lobb Paris​​,​​ Massaro​​,​​ Philippe Atienza​​​,​​​ Stephane Jimenez​ - In Japan: Yohei Fukuda​​​,​​​ Eiji Murata​​,​​ Tye Shoemaker If you have questions regarding the shoes​​​,​​​ don't hesitate to ask. Possibly to try them in Paris 15th Arrondissement