Getting in
Michael and Allyson Ciccia say their high-end, fashionable Cordani footwear is made for the well-grounded woman
Michael Ciccia is as quick to tell you who wouldn't wear Cordani shoes as he is to tell you who does. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson wouldn't; Uma Thurman, Katherine Heigl , Lauren Ambrose , Tracey Ullman , and Susan Sarandon do. Michael and his wife, Allyson, design high-end, fashionably comfortable shoes for "real women," says Michael, and "stars who are more grounded."
Cordani began almost nine years ago in the Ciccias' (pronounced chee-cha) small apartment on Beacon Hill, where they lived at the time. Michael wanted a business that involved Italy (he speaks Italian fluently ), and his wife -- who's obsessed with footwear but was frustrated with stylish shoes that weren't comfortable -- wanted a shoe-related job, so they started their company, which is named for Michael's mother's family.
If necessity is the mother of invention, obsession is the mother of design. Allyson gets her ideas for styles, colors, and textures from everywhere -- wallpaper, jewelry, a scarf, the runway, even a photo of an old barn. A couple of years ago, she says, she was "obsessed with emerald green" so they created a green sandal. Now she's into white. "She has her finger on the retail pulse," says Michael.
It takes about a year "from obsession to sale" to produce a shoe, he says. He draws a sketch and then the couple selects colors and leathers from hundreds of choices. Most Cordanis are made from the same leather, bows, and bottoms used for couture shoes. Staples in the Cordani line include wedges, clogs, ballet slippers, and lots of straps. Sketches are sent to one of four hand-picked factories in Italy, and several times a year, Michael spends about a week going over every detail of every shoe with the workers.
Two of these factories are home factories, with chickens and pigs in the yard; inside the house, women stitch and men assemble. When the shoes arrive at the company's Wakefield warehouse and need changes or repairs, Michael brings the shoes to a local tailor and cobbler. That personal touch is a signature of the business. After the spring line is delivered, Michael will prepare every box for pickup.
"We do this because of our love for shoes and the poor chicken farmer," says Michael. Cordani's 85 spring styles feature 1940s-inspired T-straps and thick heels and will sell for $180 to $250.
The Wakefield factory store is open to the public twice a year (call in May to get the June date; 781-245-2131). Cordani shoes are available at Footstock (Boston, Concord, Wellesley, Newburyport), Looks (Cambridge), Viola (S outh Hamilton), Definitely Wendy (Westboro ugh ), x-hale Boutique (Newton Highlands). There's a trunk show at Footstock (133 Newbury St.) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check cordani.com for more stores. 