Mario, the loafer according to Doucal’s

An expression of the ars sutoria of the Marche region and a cornerstone of men’s footwear, loafers never go out of fashion, spanning the generations unscathed. Accordingly, it is  the loafer that will take the limelight in the forthcoming celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Doucal’s, the Montegranaro-based company founded in 1973 by Mario Giannini. Named after the founder, the SS 2024 Mario model is a traditionally-made and yet contemporary shoe, perfect for the modern man’s wardrobe. The slip lasting method allows for flexibility in the front and firmness of fit in the back. The upper is made of so-called ‘decò’ leather, a crust calfskin hand-dyed and shaded in a process emphasizing the craftsmen’s manual skills, and it is available in earth, blue, black, leather and yellow. The sole, with a non-slip insert, is made of ‘golden cream’ yellow dyed leather, the brand’s leitmotif; the same colour that is used together with black for the memory foam insole and sophisticated packaging.

Presented at Pitti Uomo, the Mario loafer was also the star of a performance of the company’s artisans during a soiree at Palazzo Budini Gattai, where – at three workstations – they illustrated the painstaking cutting, stitching and colouring stages, carried out strictly by hand. In the first room, guests were greeted by a ‘Smart Museum’, where models representing Doucal’s and its history from 1973 to today were displayed on golden cream-coloured columns.