France and Italy are two powerhouses in the footwear industry. What happens when you add a French flair to Italian craftsmanship? You get ASH.
The brand is a pioneer within the footwear industry, now expanding to offer ready-to-wear, accessories, and men’s collections. The last two decades have seen the brand grow from strength to strength, with over 200 stores and 600 points of sales.
Ash is a footwear brand founded in 2000 by Italian Leonello Calvani and the Frenchman Patrick Ithier
Patrick Ithier is the brains behind the brand’s signature designs, bringing a sportswear approach to footwear with a keen eye for innovation while remaining true to Italy’s manufacturing heritage.
ASH rose to popularity with its infamous trademark wedge sneakers that established it as a pioneer in creating original but comfortable silhouettes.
ASH popularized the now-iconic sports wedge shoes, which helped establish the brand as a pioneer in creating original but comfortable silhouettes
We’re deep diving into this designer footwear brand and sharing everything you need to know about ASH, including whether their shoes are comfortable and worth the price tag.
Bringing Together Expertise: The Founders Behind ASH Footwear
ASH is the brainchild of Patrick Ithier, a French shoe designer, and Leonello Calvani, an Italian entrepreneur.
The duo founded ASH in 2000, drawing on their experience within the footwear industry, using Calvani’s business background and Ithier’s eye for design.
The brainchild behind ASH, French-born Patrick Ithier has established ASH as the go-to shoe brand for exceptional, original and comfortable creations (Credit: ASH Footwear)
The brand explores Italy’s footwear heritage through the lens of comfort-focused silhouettes. Calvani and Ithier launched ASH after spotting a gap in the market for practical but elegant designs at a premium price point. ASH launched with a womenswear range before quickly expanding to men’s and children’s footwear.
ASH launched its ready-to-wear collection under the name ‘ASH Studio Paris.’ The brand takes its inspiration from urban environments that elevate the brand’s edgy glamour aesthetic with a bohemian and playful feel.
ASH launched its first ready-to-wear line in 2015 under the name ASH Studio Paris
ASH is a brand that invites you to “embark on a journey of self-discovery,” describing its aesthetic as one that embraces gypsy, hippie, and rock fashion.
A peek at the brand’s Instagram account showcases its contemporary focus on practical and free-spirited designs that offer comfort and innovation.
ASH is one of the brands responsible for taking sneakers from the world of sports and making them an everyday shoe.
While fashion houses like Gucci and Balenciaga have jumped onto the sneaker trend, ASH is a designer sneaker innovator.
A designer sneaker innovator, ASH describes its aesthetic as one that embraces gypsy, hippie, and rock fashion
ASH and the ‘Dad Shoe’Craze
We all know about the ‘dad shoe’ craze – it’s the catch-all term for so-called ugly shoes that use practicality as their biggest selling point. Think Ugg boots, Croc clogs, and sliders with socks.
ASH is a brand that has always been at the heart of the “ugly shoe” trend, often drawing inspiration from athleisure and vintage trends with a bohemian flair.
On casual days, the brand’s chunky sneakers are a go-to style for supermodel Gigi Hadid.
Gigi Hadid, Kristen Bell, Emily Ratajkowski, Emma Roberts, and Victoria Justice are just some of Ash Footwear’s celebrity fans (Credit: Janet Mayer / Startraksphoto / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages / Michael Simon / Lisvett Serrant/ Marcus Owen)
Other celebrities with a closet full of Ash sneakers include Kristen Bell, Emily Ratajkowski, Emma Roberts, and Victoria Justice.
Casual footwear is at the heart of the ASH brand. The brand’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection embraces the spring break aesthetic with flat sandals and hi-top sneakers that are low-key and reflect the idea of ‘quiet luxury.’
Who owns ASH, the footwear brand?
ASH is owned by Leonello Calvani and Patrick Ithier, the brand’s original founders. Its footwear is distributed by Highline United LLC.
Patrick Ithier worked with Stephane Kelian and Charles Jourdan before launching ASH.
ASH is owned by Leonello Calvani and Patrick Ithier, with the latter serving as the brand’s Creative Director (Credit: Ash Footwear)
Ithier continues to operate as the brand’s Creative Director with a series of other designers bringing a variety of design disciplines to the brand, from embroidery to graphics.
Is ASH a luxury footwear brand?
ASH is a designer footwear brand that manufactures its designer shoes in Italy, staying true to the region’s rich craftsmanship heritage.
Italian leather is one of the brand’s go-to material choices. Their designs sit at a more attainable price point than luxury brands.
ASH offers premium designs and craftsmanship at an accessible price point
Most people would consider ASH to sit at a contemporary designer level, offering premium designs and craftsmanship at an accessible price point. If you want the quality of thousand-dollar sneakers without breaking the bank, look at ASH’s latest arrivals.
Where to buy ASH shoes
ASH footwear is available at over 600 points of sale worldwide with 200 stores. The brand’s full catalog of styles is available to purchase from its official website.
ASH sneakers are available at luxury department stores, including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks OFF 5TH.
ASH shoes are available in-store, at luxury department stores, and through luxury e-commerce marketplaces (Credit: BalazsSebok / Shutterstock)
New collections and permanent designs are also available through luxury e-commerce marketplaces, including Farfetch, Amazon, and Zappos.
How expensive are ASH shoes?
ASH shoes range in price from $180 to $320, with boots and braided sandals sitting at the top of the brand’s price sales.
Seasonal styles often go on sale for under $100, making their sales the perfect time to get premium-quality shoes at a budget-friendly price point.
ASH shoes range in price from $180 to $320, with boots and braided sandals topping the brand’s price sales
Answering Your Questions about ASH
Have you got a question about ASH? You’re not the only one! We’ve gathered all the questions from our community about ASH and are answering them below.
Who is the founder of ASH Shoes?
ASH was founded by Patrick Ithier, a French shoe designer, and Leonello Calvani, an Italian entrepreneur. The brand is the ‘brainchild’ of their French and Italian heritage, bringing a bohemian aesthetic to practical footwear silhouettes that put comfort first.
Are ASH shoes good?
ASH is a footwear brand famous for its comfortable shoes. Most of their styles are made using Italian leather, allowing them to mold to your feet and become even more comfortable with time. The premium quality is one of the best that you’ll find at ASH’s price point of under $300.
Are ASH shoes comfortable?
Comfort is part of ASH’s mission. The brand strives to create practical shoes that can become part of your everyday life. The shoes offer edgy glamour with contemporary designs that don’t compromise comfort and wearability.
Do ASH shoes run small?
Most ASH shoe reviews comment on how the shows are slightly narrow. You may want to order your ASH shoes half a size up for a more comfortable fit. We recommend going a full size up if you have wider feet.
Where are ASH shoes manufactured?
ASH shoes are made in Italy with “impeccable craftsmanship” using premium quality materials, including Italian leather.