Prada

Prada, S.p.A. is an Italian fashion company (also known as a "label" or "house") with retail outlets worldwide.

The company, originally known in Italy as "Prada Brothers", was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada in Milan. In 1978, Mario's granddaughter Miuccia Prada inherited what was still a leather goods business from her mother, and led the company's expansion into couture with an overall more bohemian style. Miu Miu is a second line of clothing, often simpler and evokes a continual image of high-end vintage items. It was followed by the Prada Sport 'Linea Rossa'
Currently Prada is considered one of the most influential clothing designers in the fashion industry.

Following the lead of other companies in a popular trend to absorb as many other fashion houses as possible, Prada took on large debts when it acquired the financially foundering Rome-based house of Fendi in the early 1990s. Prada assumed shares in Fendi with the Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) company. Prada was unable to turn around/support the money-losing Fendi label, and sold its Fendi shares to LVMH. Prada is still recovering from this debt.

The Prada Group's other notable purchases in the 1990s were the Helmut Lang and Jil Sander labels. By 2006, however, both labels had been sold. Jil Sander was sold to the private equity firm Change Capital Partners, which is headed Luc Vandevelde, the chairman of Carrefour, while the Helmut Lang label is now owned by Japanese fashion company Link Theory. In May of 2007, Prada joined forces with cell phone maker LG Electronics to create the LG Prada (KE850) phone. It retails for $800.

Sergio Rossi

Sergio Rossi is a leading Italian fashion designer and distributor of women's shoes and handbags, as well as a limited range of men's shoes. Gucci Group now owns 100% of the company as of 2004. In 2003 Sergio Rossi stands with operating over 41 stores internationally, with 5 locations in the United States; New York, Bal Harbour, Beverly Hills, Costa Mesa, and Waikiki.

GUCCI SHOES

FERRAGAMO

HISTORY OF SHOES

It is impossible to estimate at exactly what phase in development on earth that man first thought of protecting his feet from the natural hazards of weather/climate and the rough ground that they walked on. Shoes are very interesting to analyze because they have a long history. It is obvious that shoes were made for the shielding of feet but aside from their actual purpose, shoes can help to tell the story of the person who wore them. Shoes can help tell the economic and social status, values, and styles of the owner. By looking at a pair of shoes one can see that they reflect the personality of the wearer. The shape in which the shoe is in can help tell how the wearer stands and walks (it gives us a strong indication of personality) (Colin Dowell). Shoes also show character by showing how the individual reacts to fashion. In addition, one can tell whether the wearer of the shoes and the shoes themselves are in style by looking at the quality of the materials that the shoes are made from. Furthermore, by looking at the monetary value, brand name of the shoes, and the condition of the shoes (whether they are old or new) can help tell about the owners' fashion styles.

These Greenbelt shoes tell their own story as they have traveled between four to six decades. By looking at the shoes, viewers can create their own ideas of what shoes like these meant to the owner. By looking at shoes like these, the viewers may become more interested regarding their personal value, price, and how they differ from other shoes between 1937- 1945. So keep on reading and you'll find out some of the answers to these questions.