DALLAS, Nov 16, 2005/ FW/ --- Founded by Romeo and Domenico Pollini before the turn of the 20th century in San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, Pollini started as a family business specializing in shoes.

Pollini shoes popularity expanded exponentially as tourists, while on vacation in neighboring Rimini, Bellaria and Riccione. But, with the outbreak of World War I, the growth was stunted as the local craftsmen started making shoes for Italian soldiers.

After the war, in 1939, Pollini reorganized, founding the first cooperative resulting to more models of shoes created. But World War II came, and once again, any expansion that was planned stopped.

It was not until the 1950s when this expansion plan materialized, beginning with collaboration with Bruno Magli that would go on until 1961. The decade also marked the beginning of industrialization, as Pollini started its own factory separate from the original ‘family room’ style of manufacture.

The 1960s saw the complete industrialization of Pollini. Yet, even with the use of machines, skilled craftsmanship was emphasized together with the use of the highest quality leather. In 1963, the company forayed into retail, as the first Pollini store opened in Ravenna.

During the 1970s, Pollini started marketing its products outside of Italy – Duesseldorf, Paris and New York, wherein they also preview their collection twice a year, in addition to showing them in Milan and Bologna.

Collaboration with fashion houses also increased. Their Gucci contract that started during the 1960s continued, in addition to new ones – Tivioli, Regina Schrecker, Gattinoni, Erica Massei, Blumarine and Timmy.

New stores opened in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya in Japan, as well as in Florence, Milan, Bologna, Parma, Verona, Bolzano, Bergamo, Varese and Venice, in Italy.

With the tried and successful formula of developing its business decisively yet in a slow pace, Pollini continued the same strategy well into 2000, wherein at the turn of the 21st century, it became part of the AEFFE Fashion Group that started with the production of Alberta Ferretti and Philosophy accessories as well as with Narciso Rodriguez.

In 2003, Rifat Ozbek was named Creative Director of the Pollini ready-to-wear women’s collection.

Spring 2007 Photo by: Giovanni Pucci

Fall 2007 Photo by: Giovanni Pucci

Website: www.pollini.com

Address:
POLLINI SHOWROOM
Contact: Antonella Lamanuzzi
Via Bezzecca, 5
20135 Milano MI
Italy
Tel: +39 02 54 10 73 18
Fax: +39 02 55 01 00 13

U.S. Press:
AEFFE USA
Contact: John Huynh
30 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 632-9312
Fax: (212) 307-4781

News About Pollini: