Salvatore Ferragamo fêted the 20th anniversary of its retail presence in China, kicking it all off on 4 November with the re-opening of its Shanghai flagship store and an exhibition showcasing its 100-year old relationship with the world of cinema.
Celebrity and VIP guests including Tang Wei and Jing Bo Ran attended the reopening of the flagship, located in the city's Shanghai Centre, followed by cocktails and dinner at the Shanghai Exhibition Center.
The city's cultural landmark also played host to She's like a Rainbow, an exhibition paying homage to five of Salvatore Ferragamo's most glamorous clients and muses – Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, and Brigitte Bardot – by displaying the five original Salvatore-designed shoes the actresses famously wore.
Presented within a series of bold, neon-lit exhibition spaces, each iconic shoe was juxtaposed with exclusively commissioned works by Chinese pop artist Han Yajuan and contemporary designs from the upcoming Edgardo Osorio for Salvatore Ferragamo capsule shoe collection, dedicated to the five screen idols and evoking Salvatore's masterful understanding of colour and material, his commitment to Made in Italy craftsmanship and the inherent glamour of the silver screen.
The exhibition culminated in a retrospective of Ferragamo Chinese 'milestones', those signature designs that retrace the brand’s journey and highlight the many artistic and cinematic influences that have inspired its style and enhanced its success.
During the dinner, guests watched the premiere of a playful, animated film by acclaimed fashion illustrator Megan Hess that channels the spirit of those same five shoe creations and provides a vivid homage to the shoemaker to the stars – past, present and future.
The film can now be viewed online as part of the 100 Years 100 Days season, an ongoing digital platform celebrating the 100-year parallel stories of both Salvatore Ferragamo and Hollywood.
