THE COMPANY'S STORY

Lorenzo Banfi S.p.A, was set up in 1979 in Parabiago Near Milan, in a area with a long tradition of quality footwear. The company has operated from three plants over the years. The latest in the series, ultramodern and functional is at Via Santa Croce 25, Parabiago. It employs 110 people. The decision to work out of Parabiago has revealed itself a wise one for two reasons. Not only does the town boast a tradition for footwear; it is also near Milan, a fact which has allowed the company to experience and partake of the success of the Italian-made fashion. Over the years, the company has also branched out from footwear as such. Its current production also embraces a line of leather goods, cashmere pullovers, leather tunies and jackets, ties and scarves. Lorenzo Banfi has a showroom in Milan in Via Montenapoleone, its own brand outlets in Via dell Spigo and Via Sant’Andrea in Milan and representative branch offices in New York, USA, and Munich, Germany. Lorenzo Banfi is also active through authorized retailers in over 24 countries.

THE STRATEGY

To “reinvent” Lorenzo Banfi day in, day out, keeping constantly in the tune with changing political, social, economic and style trends on all the world markets. This approach keeps the Lorenzo Banfi image in line with the times and, above all, youthful. Without, of course, straying from its great heritage of tradition. The years go by, but the company never changes its growth targets. And it always manages to meet them. Thanks to the supreme craftsmanship of its products, the like of which is becoming rarer and rarer on the world market in view of all the time and costs involved. Stringent selection of sales outlets, indisputable value of money, an almost maniacal fixation with the end user (to whom the company offers a mode of expression, not a fashion product).

PRODUCTION

Today it seems that everything has to be produced faster and faster, with fewer and fewer human interventions. But we take the opposite view. We delight at the sight of someone taking all the time it requires “to make things properly”. Cut and colouring, stitching and assembly of soles are just a few of the important operations carried out entirely by hand. All materials, from the finest, like rare Grained Leathers*, to the latest fine, are of the same high, exclusive quality. All accessories are designed and produced exclusively.

* “Ascot Grained Leather”. The exclusive name of a coarse leather from Britain and hand treated by Lorenzo Banfi’s special substances and procedures, comparable to those used to polish fine woods.