Giuseppe Zanotti: The Italian Visionary Behind Fashion’s Most Daring Luxury Shoes

Most Italian luxury footwear brands can be associated with elegance and grace. Giuseppe Zanotti also adds a healthy dose of magic to his designs. His exquisite footwear brings motifs from fantasies and myths to life, from delicate petals to deadly beasts.

Over the past three decades, Giuseppe Zanotti’s footwear has become the go-to choice for fashion’s most daring individuals. Here’s how the Italian designer has built an empire based on boldness and fantasy.

How Giuseppe Zanotti Built a Luxury Shoe Empire

Footwear has always been part of Giuseppe Zanotti’s surroundings. The luxury shoe designer was born in the small village of San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, where footwear manufacturing has been the primary industry for decades.

Giuseppe has often joked that you can smell the leather in the village air.

Giuseppe Zanotti was born in 1957 in San Mauro Pascoli, a town known for its high-end shoe-making tradition (Credit: Delbo Andrea / Shutterstock)

Young Giuseppe was not just inspired to get into the trade because of proximity. He always considered himself a creative person and was particularly inspired by the beautiful women in his region.

Giuseppe wanted to design shoes that accentuated their features. Growing up, he often believed that women’s shoes didn’t do their beauty justice or didn’t reflect the changing times.

A Giuseppe Zanotti Design banner proudly hangs outside, featuring the brand’s signature logo that represents luxury, innovation, and Italian craftsmanship in footwear (Credit: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock)

With a clear vision, 18-year-old Giuseppe began working at a local shoe factory to learn the foundations of the craft. Eventually, he began consulting for major international fashion houses and, in 1994, launched his eponymous label.

Giuseppe Zanotti Design (pronounced joo-SEH-peh zah-NOT-tee, sometimes written Juh-seh-pee Zuh-nah-tee) was established to craft boundary-pushing footwear for stylish women, marrying bold creativity with time-honored Italian craftsmanship.

Inside Giuseppe Zanotti’s Italian Craftsmanship

Giuseppe Zanotti’s footwear is the best example of Italians holding onto traditions where they matter most. His headquarters are still in his hometown of San Mauro Pascoli, where artisans have been creating high-quality footwear for decades.

Giuseppe Zanotti, in his design studio, sketches one of his signature creations surrounded by prototypes and striking campaign imagery, showcasing his artistry and dedication to luxury footwear (Credit: Delbo Andrea / Shutterstock)

The luxury heels, sneakers, and boots are renowned for their lightness and eye-catching silhouettes. Giuseppe has always wanted his designs to have an airy feel while creating the perfect mixture of elements.

He favors natural materials, such as high-quality full-grain Italian leather and silk, that create a stunning contrast.

The Giuseppe Zanotti boutique showcases an elegant display of the brand’s signature luxury footwear, blending modern aesthetics with gold accents to highlight its timeless Italian craftsmanship (Credit: Sorbis / Shutterstock)

All Giuseppe Zanotti shoes are handmade in Italy to the very last detail. Even crystals and embellishments are individually hand-set in his San Mauro Pascoli factory.

The Giuseppe Zanotti team treats comfort and balance as essential to luxury — not afterthoughts. Every pair is meticulously engineered to fit like a second skin, ensuring the same precision and poise in movement as in design.

Music, Art & Giuseppe Zanotti’s Celebrity Collaborations

The Italian designer has always been inspired by art and culture, but music holds an extra special place in his heart. Giuseppe actually trained to be a DJ as a teenager and has always maintained strong ties to the music industry.

Jennifer Lopez poses with Giuseppe Zanotti, celebrating their collaboration that blends Lopez’s glamorous style with Zanotti’s signature luxury footwear designs (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)

The brand has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Kanye West, JLo, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Rita Ora. He’s been more inspired by the art world lately, recently collaborating with visual artist Joshua Vides.

2025’s Standout Giuseppe Zanotti Celebrity Moments

From red carpets to press tours, Giuseppe Zanotti’s creations continue to command attention in 2025. Stars like Angelina Jolie and Lili Reinhart have both stepped out in the Italian designer’s signature heels — proof that his blend of sculptural glamour and modern edge remains a red-carpet constant.

The 3 Most Iconic Giuseppe Zanotti Shoe Designs

The Italian luxury label has become famous for its sculptural, fantasy-like footwear. Here are some of Giuseppe Zanotti’s most famous styles:

1. Venere: The Sensual Stiletto Inspired by Venus

The designer described this striking style as a fusion between a serpent and a woman’s body.

Named after the Italian word for Venus, this sensual stiletto features a curved strap that snakes around the ankle. The Venere has also been reimagined as a flat sandal for the summer holidays.

The Giuseppe Zanotti Venere sandal features a striking gold serpent-like detail that elegantly wraps around the foot, embodying bold luxury and Italian craftsmanship

If you are intrigued by Giuseppe Zanotti’s Venere sandals and their serpentine elegance, explore how Demi Lovato showcased the wavy crystal-adorned ‘Venere’ sandals during a heartfelt performance, adding a touch of sparkle to her ensemble.

Additionally, discover how Karolina Kurkova embraced the ‘Venere’ sandals at the Met Gala, pairing them with a red kimono-style mini dress for a high-fashion finish.

2. Cruel: Iconic Winged Sandals That Turn Heads

With their stunning wing detailing and sleek stiletto heels, we’d say that adding a pair of these exquisite sandals to your shoe collection is more of an act of kindness.

The Cruel shoe is one of the brand’s most memorable designs and has been recreated into flat, block-heeled versions.

The Giuseppe Zanotti Cruel sandals feature striking gold wing detailing set against a sleek black design, offering a bold and luxurious statement in both stiletto and flat versions

There’s even more to explore for readers fascinated by Giuseppe Zanotti’s Cruel sandals and their iconic winged design. Discover how Kanye West collaborated with Giuseppe Zanotti to create the striking Cruel Summer heels, a fusion of music and fashion that left a mark on the industry.

See how Kim Kardashian styled the ‘Cruel Summer’ sandals, showcasing her signature glamour, or dive into a comparison of celebrities — including Kim and Khloé Kardashian — who wore these statement heels and decide who wore them best.

3. Harmony: The Minimalist Stiletto for Any Occasion

The Harmony heels show the beauty of simplicity. Their minimal design features three thin straps, evenly spaced, counterbalanced by sky-high stiletto heels. Versatile and chic, the Harmony heels can be paired with just about anything.

The Giuseppe Zanotti Harmony sandals feature a minimalist design with three delicate straps and sky-high stiletto heels, embodying timeless elegance and versatility for any occasion

To see more about Giuseppe Zanotti’s Harmony sandals and their minimalist elegance, explore how Karen Gillan stunned in silver ‘Harmony’ sandals at the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ London premiere, pairing them with a metallic velvet dress for a chic ensemble.

Additionally, discover how Jennifer Lopez lunched at the Louvre in Paris wearing the same iconic sandals, styling them with a monogrammed Gucci dress for a sophisticated look.

Spotting Authentic Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes: A Style Guide

Want to invest in an authentic pair of Giuseppe Zanotti shoes? Make sure you’re getting the real thing by checking for the following details:

1. Signature Packaging: Black Box and Silver Accents

The shoe box should be black with a silver logo. The inside should include a silky silver dust bag with the Giuseppe Zanotti logo and a black-and-silver care card.

Giuseppe Zanotti shoes come in a black box with a silver logo and a silky silver dust bag (Credit: The Luxury Closet)

2. Sole Details: The Key Giuseppe Zanotti Markings

The insole should feature an evenly spaced, aligned Giuseppe Zanotti Design logo. The outsole should also have an engraved logo, a ‘Vero Cuoio’ (genuine leather) label, a Made In Italy label, and the size.

A logo and a Made in Italy label should be engraved on every Giuseppe Zanotti shoe outsole

The Giuseppe Zanotti team is dedicated to authenticating their shoes, so you can also check with Giuseppe Zanotti customer service to see if the seller you are buying from is on their authorized reseller list.

More Giuseppe Zanotti Fashion Highlights

For readers captivated by Giuseppe Zanotti’s bold, sculptural designs, dive into these archived fashion moments spotlighting the designer’s signature footwear on celebrities.