Mario Valentino

founded by

Mario Valentino

belongs to

Vicenzo Valentino

about

The Mario Valentino Company was founded in 1952 by Mr. Mario Valentino in Naples, Italy, where still today it is present its head office.

This Company works in the leather good with the production of shoes, accessories and women's wear by using it own Trademarks.

The first shoes with the Trademark “Valentino” were created by Mario’s father, Vincenzo Valentino in Naples. He was considered the best manufacturer of the world since the beginning of his activity, in fact even the King Vittori Emanuele bought his shoes.

At the bginning of the last century he created, in his small factory, very beautiful shoes on required size, soft, flexible, elegant, very expansive but also very refined.

In fashion anthologies, the Mario Valentino Company is widely regarded as the creator of the stiletto heel, as well as the brand behind the precious Coral Sandal, which is now on display at the Bally Shoe Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. Mario invented the famous coral sandal in 1954, while he was helping his father in the factory.

In 1956 was finally established the still existing factory in Naples. At that time he designed such unusual shoes that as logical consequence he started to design the matching bags. Not many years later, the Company entered the world of clothing: famous designers such as Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, Claude Montana contributed to the avant-garde Mario Valentino Collections in the 70’s and 80’s. the collection were produced mostly in leather, as distinctive characteristic of the line.

In the 80’s Mario Valentino Company achieved a strong leadership in Asia markets, imposing its name and products in all the most exclusive boutiques of Europe, U.S. and Japan. In the events connected to fashion received many awards by important people such as Ronald and Nancy Regan, Italian President of Republic, U.S. Abassadors Rabb and Peter Secchia.

Today, the Company is led by Vicenzo Valentino, Marios Valentino’s son, who is following the path traced by his father studying new areas as Russia and East Europe countries.

The headquarters are still in Naples, where the Mario Valentino flagship store is located in the most elegant street of the city. The prestigious Showroom in Milan, very close to Via Montenapoleone, remains the most representative seat of the Company.