Interesting Facts On Bruno Magli Shoes
Whenever one hears the term Bruno Magli shoes, one instantly thinks of high quality hand made leather shoes which only the rich can afford. This can be true, in a sense. But what exactly are they? Read on to find the some fun and interesting facts on this luxury brand and get to know the man behind the masterpieces that are Bruno Magli Shoes.
Bruno Magli Shoes’ Humble Beginnings
Bruno Magli and his siblings Maria and Marino started creating hand made shoes in 1936 in a small basement in their home in Bologna, Italy. The siblings’ father was a cobbler, but Bruno was taught the art of shoemaking and designing by his grandfather.
Bruno created the company behind the famous Bruno Magli shoes which initially created shoes for women. His sister, Maria sewed and took care of the uppers while their brother, Marino, took care of the soles.
The firm quickly became a success and in 1947 the siblings moved out of the family basement and transferred to its first factory. Along with the growth, the company expanded its design to include men’s shoes.
Bruno Magli Shoes And The World
Over the decades, Bruno Magli’s success has continually expanded. In 1967, the company opened its first retail store and Bruno Magli shoes began to be franchised – a move which triggered even more success and contributed much to its further expansion.
In 1969, with the growing demand for Bruno Magli shoes, the company again moved to an even larger factory equipped with modern machinery which it still occupies at present. Despite Bruno Magli’s state of the art equipment, most of the shoes are still being done traditionally – by hand.
The New Face of Bruno Magli Shoes
During the 1990’s, Rita Magli, together with Rolf Grueterich, who headed the men’s shoe business in the U.S. for 14 years and started working on the women’s business side updated the look of Bruno Magli Shoes and retail stores worldwide. The classic oxfords, pumps and slingbacks took on a more modern design with the introduction of polka dots, denims, and animal prints.
At the same time, the company expanded its products to include accessories and apparel such as denim.
Bruno Magli’s granddaughter, Monica, created a line called “Magli by Monica” which targets the younger and hipper crowd. Truly, the company was able to reinvent itself to appeal to all ages.
Bruno Magli Shoes and The OJ Simpson Trial
During the OJ Simpson Trial, one of the evidence presented was a pair of Bruno Magli shoes apparently worn by the suspect on the crime scene. The Bruno Magli shoes in question was a pair of size 12 “Lorenzo” model. Being proof of the saying that “there is no such thing as bad publicity”, the exposure the company got from this newfound evidence skyrocketed sales by 35% to 50%. Bruno Magli has discontinued the manufacturing of the Lorenzo model.
Bruno Magli Shoes and the Future
In 2001, Opera, an investment fund half owned by Bulgari, purchased a majority of Bruno Magli, which means that the Magli family no longer has controlling interest of company. The family planned to expand company operations from this sale.
To date, over a million pairs of Bruno Magli shoes and 60,000 handbags are manufactured annually. Celebrities as well as royalty are avid fans of Bruno Magli Shoes. The most exquisite pairs even earn a place at famous museums and exhibits.