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In between modeling, running a boutique in SoHo, serving as a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar, working as a freelance stylist and launching a beauty line through the years, ebullient New Yorker Linda Rodin had always wanted to design shoes, too. With the help of Italian footwear specialist Scarosso, she finally crossed off that wish from her bucket list.
Tapped by the direct-to-consumer brand to develop a capsule collection dropping on Thursday [June 6], Rodin decided to rework ballerina and mary jane flats with her signature penchant for popping colors and bold details.
“Collaborations are at the heart of Scarosso’s business model. We’re always on the lookout for inspiring individuals we’d love to work with,” said Scarosso’s brand manager Gaetano D’Angiulli. “For a while, we were searching for a strong, authentic personality who embodies purity and originality. That’s when Linda came into the picture. From our first meeting, it was love at first sight: we instantly found harmony in the product, the vibe and the campaign,” he said, defining the tie-up “a natural fit as we sought to revive the classic style with a contemporary twist, infused with Linda’s vision and the lively energy of New York.”
The concise range includes a calf leather style with a markedly rounded toe and a patent leather design coming with three straps sealed by metal buckles. The former model is available in black, red and turquoise, while the latter comes in off-white, navy and teal colors.
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“I’ve always been drawn to the timeless elegance of ballerina shoes. One style, in particular, held a special place in my heart since I was young, but it remained elusive,” said Rodin about the shoe she wanted “when I was about 10 years old, but my mother felt they were too grown-up, so I never got them.”
“With this collaboration opportunity, I was able to make that wish come true with this vintage style that I’ve always loved,” she said. “My goal was to make shoes that one doesn’t often find in these styles and ones that I would be proud to wear in each colorway.”
Scarosso Linda I Red Ballerinas
Available on Scarosso’s online store at $370 each, the styles come in a special packaging adorned with illustrations by British artist Paul Wearing. For the dedicated campaign, the two parties tapped photographer Tayler Smith, instead, to portray Rodin in her favorite spots in New York’s West Village, near her home. These include The End of History design store and the Left Bank Books shop buying and selling used, vintage and rare books in literature, culture and the arts.
“I chose those shops because I frequent both regularly, I like chatting with their owners, and they love my dog Romy,” said Rodin.
Scarosso Linda II White Patent Ballerinas
To further mark the collaboration, a private event hosted by Scarosso and Rodin is to be staged at the city’s iconic Hotel Chelsea on Thursday. This is going to be the first New York-based event for the footwear brand, which is growing in the U.S.
To be sure, Scarosso, which is based in Milan and produces all its styles in Montegranaro, in Italy’s Marche region, also recently teamed up with Brooks Brothers on a footwear capsule celebrating the understated American and preppy styles and to be presented at Pitti Uomo, running June 11 to 14 in Florence. The four-item line include a rubber-soled loafer with tassels, leather penny loafers, derby lace-ups and an all-white sneaker design embellished with the golden Brooks Brothers logo on the tongue.
Scarosso’s previous high-profile tie-ups comprised capsules developed with Nick Wooster, Lanificio Cerruti, Pietro Boselli, Brian Atwood and Paula Cademartori. The latter two have significantly increased the brand’s women’s business.
“The U.S. market is our second most important area after Central Europe, and we continue to nurture it, especially through collaborations. Nick Wooster, Brian Atwood, Warren Alfie Baker, Matt Hranek, and now Linda Rodin are all Americans with a strong focus on the U.S. market,” said D’Angiulli.
“Our presence in the area is growing positively, today it accounts over 15 percent of the whole business,” he said without disclosing revenues, but adding that sales in the market in the first quarter of 2024 were up 20 percent compared to the same period last year. “Our next move might be to start working with some select retailers,” said D’Angiulli.
Last year, Scarosso also expanded into the kids’ footwear market. Its “Loafers for Kids” collection drew inspiration from the company’s adult line with the concept of “same same but different,” showcasing matching footwear for parents and their kids. The debut drop featured 16 colors of the Ludovica loafer for girls and eight colors of the Ludovico loafer for boys.
