Footwear Legend Sergio Rossi Dies in Italy at 84
Footwear legend Sergio Rossi — who built one of Italy’s most storied luxury shoe brands and inspired generations of designers, including his son Gianvito — died in Cesena, Italy at age 84. The cause of death was possibly coronavirus as he was hospitalized for a few days. Sergio Rossi was born in San Mauro Pascoli , one of Italy’s main shoemaking regions, in 1935. He learned the trade from his father, began producing footwear in the early 1950s and launched his namesake brand in 1968. As he grew his own label, the designer also collaborated with fashion houses such as Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Azzedine Alaïa. Rossi developed a number of groundbreaking styles such as the Opanca sandal with its curved sole. “He was a master, it was a great pleasure to have met him, he was our spiritual guide and he is today more than ever,” said Riccardo Sciutto, CEO of the brand since April 2016. Sciutto has over the years paid tribute to the founder of the company and created an archive o