Bontoni

Bontoni is a third-generation luxury Italian shoemaker that specializes in crafting handmade shoes for men. It was founded in 2004 by Franco Gazzani, a third-generation family shoemaker, and his distant cousin Lewis Cutillo.[2][3] Before the establishment of the Bontoni brand, Gazzani's grandfather, uncle, and father produced custom shoes for a select number of clients without a label. Many of the shoe models carried by the brand were originally designed by Gazzani's father and grandfather. [4][5][6] The name Bontoni originates from the French phrase "bon ton," which means a fashionable or stylish manner.[7]

Bontoni employs a team of nine highly skilled artisans to produce approximately 3800 pairs of handmade shoes annually. Each pair undergoes an extensive 14-week production process that requires almost 26 working hours. Until March 2021, Bontoni's workshop, "Casa e Bottega", was located in the Marches region of Italy, operating from Gazzani's basement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has relocated some of its production to a nearby workshop that offers a charming atmosphere. Despite this change, Bontoni remains one of the few family-owned artisanal workshops in Italy that continue to partially operate from home.

Bontoni's ready-made collection is exclusively offered at highly selective retailers worldwide, including prominent establishments such as Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Wilkes Bashford, Beymen, Richard's /Mitchells, Mario's, Boyds, Stanley Korshak, Harry Rosen, as well as several others.[5]

Despite its limited production capacity, Bontoni has attracted a devoted following of discerning clients who highly value the quality and craftsmanship of its shoes. This includes prominent figures in various fields, such as industry leaders, heads of state, athletes, and artists, all of whom recognize and appreciate the superior craftsmanship of a finely crafted pair of shoes.

• List of Italian companies

• Official Website