Franco Sarto is the driving inspiration and passion behind the actual designs. Born in 1949 in Dolo, a small town outside of Venice, Sarto’s passion struck early. By the time he turned 14, Sarto was working in a shoe factory where his job was to sit on a stool and hand-last shoes with a hammer and nails. By his early twenties, Sarto knew shoes and fashion were to be his life, so he packed up and moved to Stra - the center of shoe design for all of Italy. He quickly partnered with another designer and opened up a design studio. In 1990, he launched his namesake line. It is Sarto’s start as a cobbler and his passion as a footwear designer that make him a rarity in the business; he designs his shoes both with the sweat and blood of a technician and the grace and beauty of a designer. To this day, Sarto hand sketches many of his designs and is well-known for his drawings during public appearances. While the technician in him continually pushes to make women’s shoes as comfortable as possible, the other side of Franco Sarto lives for fashion. He understands a woman’s undying passion for shoes and is dedicated to keeping that passion alive by crafting beautiful shoes that bring joy to women around the world.