1938 - 2017 | ANDRE PERUGIA V/S GIORGIO ARMANI: TO BE OR KNOT TO BE

1938 | André Perugia for his own brand Padova

Sandal with draped heel

Musée International de la Chaussure, Romans

2017 | Giorgio Armani

Sandal without draped heel

A few months after the last André Perugia rip-off, here is another Perugia-inspired design. It has been described as:

Sophisticated and elegant, this velvet sandal is ideal for special occasions. The shoe features crossover straps at the front creating a bow. 

Source: Giorgio Armani web site

938 | André Perugia - Padova

Sandal with draped heel 

On display at the Footwear Museum of Vigevano. Gift of Yvette Lafaury

Photograph: Irma Vivaldi

However, Perugia’s sandal main feature wasn’t the knot but the draped heel, as presented by Paris Soir (November 23, 1938):

"Perugia, 2 rue de la Paix, launches the draped heel. This model and all its variations are protected by international patents.”

Two known models of the Perugia “draped heel” are kept at the International Footwear Museum of Vigevano (picture above) and Romans’ Musée International de la Chaussure (top left page).

ANDRE PERUGIA
BOTTIER
I N D E X

1938 | André Perugia - Padova

Sandal with draped heel 

On display at the Footwear Museum of Vigevano. Gift of Yvette Lafaury

Photograph: Irma Vivaldi