Description

Beppino Rampin was one of the last traditional roman bespoke shoemaker. Born in Padua​​,​​ he learned from his father the art of shoemaking and began working in his atelier at the young age of six years old. When he married​​,​​ he went to Rome with his wife​,​​ and became starstruck by the city as well as the many shoemakers around. This was the 1950's​​,​​ where the Cinecitta was at its peak​​,​​ attracting actors and directors from around the world​​,​​ thanks to the work of Vittorio De Sica​​,​​ Roberto Rosselini​​,​​ Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. Beppino Rampin decided to settle in Rome. He worked with the many prestigious atelier there (including Marini​​,​​ Pettrocchi and Gatto)​​,​​ before creating his own atelier at 31 Via Quitino Sella​​,​​ a few steps away from the most famous Roman shoemaker​​,​​ and probably one of the best in the world: Gatto. For almost 70 years in his small shop of 15 square meters​​,​​ he would create by hand incredible shoes for celebrities​​,​​ heads-of-state​​,​​ politicians​​,​​ lawyers and many others. He was also one of the rare shoemaker who could make incredible pairs for both men and women. For example he made shoes for the brothers of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah​​,​​ as well as actress such as Sabrina Ferilli (known for her role as Ramona in Paolo Sorentino's film La Grande Belleza) or french actress Valerie Lemercier. He also created shoes for the theatre and ballet dancers​​,​​ for which we was decorated with the "il gonfalone d'oro" (Golden Flag) from the Lazio's region in 1985. Beppino Rampin's shoes​​,​​ while in the tradition of Roman shoemaking​​,​​ were more refined. The last was more daring than his counterpart​​,​​ the patterns were more original​​,​​ and he was one of the few shoemaker who could make a true whole-cut with no seams at all. He didn't use a trial shoe and was able to create an entire pair in less than 15 days​​,​​ or 30 hours of work. His craft was so celebrated he received the most prestigious decoration: the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic​​,​​ with the rank of Commander​​,​​ in 1997. He was also highly recommended by his peers​​,​​ including Gatto himself. Beppino Rampin passed away in 2017 and the shop was closed. One of his apprentice was Masahito Furuhuta​​,​​ a Japanese shoemaker who worked for all the great Italian bespoke houses (Gatto​​,​​ Messina​​,​​ Comolli and Marini) and perpetuates the Roman style today. I propose an incredible example of his work: a light-brown aproned derby with a triple stitch norwegian welt. Made in the 1980's​,​​ this derby is the perfect pair for the week-end​​,​​ the countryside and the winter months. With its indestructible and entirely handmade construction and thick sole​​,​​ they will last a lifetime and more. It will age beautifully with each new coat of shoe polish​,​ taking shades of chesnut​,​ brown or caramel depending on your liking. As always with Rampin​​​,​​​ everything is done by hand​​​,​​​ from the stitching of the upper to the soles. You cannot find such level of craft these days. They feature the classic square heel​​,​​ a trademark of Roman shoemaking​​,​​ the carved "Rampin" on the sole​​,​​ as well as a nailed heel instead of the regular rubber heel​​,​​ for more longevity. The condition is excellent​. The size is a 8​​,​​5UK​​​​/​​​​42​​,​​5EU. Check the measurements below to be sure it fits you: Length left shoe: 30​​,​​4 cm Length right shoe: 30​​,​​2 cm Width left shoe: 10​​,​​4​ cm Width right shoe: 10​​,​​5​ cm Shoetrees and dustbags are not included 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​​​,​​​ Gatto​​,​​ Marini​​​,​​​ Pettrocchi​​​,​​​ 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. Possible to try them in Paris 15th Arrondissement