Louis Vuitton Classic Serenissima Run: An Epilogue (2)

Louis Vuitton or The Art of Travel

A Special Edition of the Louis Vuitton Classic Serenissima Run

The Pinnacle of Made-to-Order—Fiesso d'Artico: Part Two

The "Serenissima Run," a classic car race organized by Louis Vuitton. Last time, we introduced Fiesso d'Artico, a modern shoe factory located 33 kilometers west of Venice, the race's destination, where all the cars stopped. It is here that Made-to-Order (MTO) is also produced, separately from ready-to-wear shoes. In other words, it is a bespoke manufacturing service that Louis Vuitton prides itself on, tailored to the customer. We also had the opportunity to speak with MTO Ambassador Visconti.

Photographs by LOUIS VUITTONText by GORO HOSOMURA (OPENERS)

A Lineage of Artisans Passed Down Through Generations

The Veneto region of Italy, where Fiesso d'Artico is located, has a tradition of elegant shoemaking dating back to the 13th century. Shoemaking is a family business, with advanced techniques passed down through generations. Louis Vuitton of France's MTO operations in this region are made possible by this exquisite craftsmanship. All shoes are manufactured in Barbarà, Spain, for the belts, then sent to Fiesso for finishing similar to the shoes. These shoes and belts are truly exceptional creations by Louis Vuitton, meticulously crafted in the very birthplace of shoemaking.

The MTO product lines are named after historical Venetian landmarks. The classic line, Ducale, the clean and modern line, Fenice, and the timeless line, Rialto, are derived from the Doge's Palace, the Fenice (meaning phoenix) Theatre, and the Rialto Bridge (also known as the white giant elephant), respectively.

There are three types of lines, six styles, four construction methods, three upper designs, five calfskin leathers with different finishes, three exotic leathers, eight colors, two types of metal hardware, eighteen sizes, and three widths. This results in over 3,000 possible combinations for MTO shoes and over 1,500 for MTO belts. It is a testament to Louis Vuitton's commitment to customer service, fulfilling every client's request.

MTO Ambassador Luchino Visconti on Shoemaking

The name might remind some of the film director Visconti. In fact, MTO Ambassador Luchino Visconti is a distant relative of his. The Visconti family is a noble Italian lineage, belonging to the aristocracy. He serves as the MTO Ambassador.

He became the MTO Ambassador after arriving at Fiesso d'Artico in 2011.
He admits that while he knew of Louis Vuitton's traditions, history, and excellent craftsmanship, he had little prior knowledge about shoes.

“They taught me, one by one, what is characteristic of the Maison, that is, Louis Vuitton, and what is not. They also introduced me to Roberto, the head shoemaker (master). After that, I jumped into this project without any hesitation.”

He has a strong passion for making shoes. “When I buy a suit, I have it tailored to my size with the intention of wearing it for 50 years. The same applies to shoes. It’s important that the size is perfectly correct, as they grow with your feet.”

Small workshops and shoemakers in Milan are rare, and it is becoming difficult for them to survive. Most of the techniques that have been passed down for a long time have already been lost. Small shoe workshops lacked the means to teach their skills to younger generations.

“So, I was very excited when I came here, looking forward to seeing the workshop. But when I actually stepped inside, it wasn't the shoe workshop I had imagined. It was more like a tailor's shop, a modern place unlike any workshop. What's wonderful about Louis Vuitton's Fiesso is that they invest time and effort to bring a multitude of exceptional skills into the Maison.”

Half the joy of ordering custom shoes is, of course, wearing them, but the other half is spending time deliberating over the preferred shape, color, finish, and sole. It's a delightful process.
“This time spent on oneself is enjoyable in itself. It’s the same feeling as going to a tailor.”

In Japan, orders for MTO shoes and belts are accepted exclusively at the Louis Vuitton Omotesando store. The brand insists on having only specially trained MTO specialists attend to customers. The delivery time is approximately 3 to 4 months (about 6 months for exotic leathers).
Within the workshop dedicated to classic men's shoes, where the savoir-faire of Fiesso d'Artico is concentrated, there is an MTO space. There, Master Roberto and his young assistant were diligently working. Yes, this is where your MTO shoes are made. Their skilled hands evoke the depth of traditional Italian craftsmanship.

Louis Vuitton Ginza Namiki Dori Store
7-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3478-2100 (Louis Vuitton Customer Service)
Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Sundays until 7:00 PM)
http://www.louisvuitton.com