Positively forwards
- Federico creates handmade and customised shoes and handbags
- In the first week of having a workshop, all his shoes sold out
- For him, there is always something to be learned and improved in his craft
While he was studying to be a surveyor, Federico Badia also worked in a leather workshop, and this special world fascinated him. Federico’s professional career began from that side-experience. After working for three years, he decided to expand his technical know-how into the creation of handmade shoes. He worked in the famous workshop of Nicola Petrelli located in the centre of Rome, in Vicolo Scanderberg. After a few years of apprenticing, in 2011, Federico opened his own workshop in Orvieto. In 2014, he won the Pialletto d'Oro, an award presented by the Orvieto CNA, the Italian Confederation of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprises, as recognition for being craftsman of the year. Federico's professional path is constantly evolving and growing, as is his customer base. "Today my handmade shoes and bags are in demand and worn all over the world," he explains.
Interview
- How would you define your craft?
- Demanding but very gratifying. It takes time and precision to make a pair of shoes, as I must select the right materials and forge the right shapes to be in tune with the needs and styles of each client. The joy of my customers rewards everything.
- What is it that your customers appreciate about your work specifically?
- They love that their shoes are unique in design and quality of materials, and they appreciate that they are very comfortable to wear, becoming their best partner in every moment of life.
- What does ‘artfully made’ mean to you?
- For me it means that a product has to be perfect and at the same time it must be warm and full of life. Each model, in fact, is the result of study and testing, and when it is a tailor-made model, the challenge is even greater.
- Can you tell us about a memorable moment in your professional life?
- Within the first week of me opening my shop in Orvieto, I had sold all my products, sold out! It was an unexpected and very motivating surprise. Since then, my shop has become popular with locals and tourists alike. Word of mouth alone has made my shoes sought after all over the world.
Federico Badia is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2011
Works
Where
Federico Badia
