But there are plenty of other locales with skilled makers that deserve just as much prestige. Husband-and-wife team Marina and Ricardo Larroudé have put down roots in one of them: Sapiranga
In the industrial town in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
known for its shoe industry, they manufacture their eponymous shoe line and employ a growing fleet of local craftspeople
For their latest campaign, the team sent Brazilian model Caroline Ribeiro to the factory to pose on the tables in silver pumps and dip her kitten heels into a basket of spare soles. Here, the co-founders offer a bit of insight into the whirlwind of the past three years
CULTURED: Can you tell us about the inspirations behind the Party Drop campaign
we felt it was the perfect time to pivot and present our brand in an innovative
CULTURED: Why did you land on Sapiranga as the location for the factory and how have you seen the move impact the community there
Ricardo Larroudé: Sapiranga emerged as our choice for the factory's location due to its esteemed reputation in Brazil for producing artisanal
high-quality shoes; it's truly the epicenter for top-tier shoemaking
we have directly provided employment for 85 individuals and indirectly supported hundreds more
Our initiative reinvigorated various factories and suppliers
which faced stagnation during the pandemic
we extend health insurance benefits not only to our employees but also to their extended families.
Marina and I made a heartfelt commitment to the mayor, aspiring to elevate Sapiranga's recognition on par with Italy's shoe craftsmanship legacy
It's worth noting that the region around Sapiranga produces three times the number of shoes Italy [does]
We acknowledge there's more ground to cover for the community's betterment and our mission remains unwavering: to enhance
and continually foster job creation and opportunities
CULTURED: What made Caroline Ribeiro the right person for this launch
Marina: Caroline Ribeiro epitomizes the iconic supermodel era of the early 2000s
our professional journeys started at about the same time
but with me navigating the fashion world as an assistant and Caroline reigning supreme on the runways and major campaigns … Her trailblazing success served as a beacon for what a high-fashion model could achieve.
CULTURED: You've grown to 90 employees in three years. What has tht looked like internally?
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