Singapore - Shoemaking is a craft that cannot be rushed, according to the people at Salvatore Ferragamo.
The Italian luxury brand, which has been producing women's shoes since 1928 and worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, claims that each shoe is handmade and takes a couple of weeks to produce, depending on the design of the shoe.
That is what AsiaOne Plush found out at a recent exhibition, 'The Art of Shoemaking', held at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) from April 29 to May 2.
Specially flown for the exhibition was an expert craftsman from Florence, who showed visitors the intricate process of shoemaking.
We observed how he tugged and hammered away at his open-concept workspace of MBS to produce iconic shoes like the Carla, Varina and Ribes from scratch.
Together with the aid of a translator, they explained the various steps of the construction process and the unique tools used.
After the layers of lining are glued together with the heel to produce the basic form, the half-finished product will have to 'sit' for seven days to allow the shoe to settle in its form.
After which, the shoemakes will add the finishing touches by embellishing the shoe with bows and ornaments.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors were enthralled by the shoe master as he seamlessly worked his time into producing one decadent shoe after another.
Aside from the live shoemaking presentation, visitors were also treated to an intimate viewing of Salvatore Ferragamo's Spring/Summer 2013 collection.
There is no doubt that to produce one of the world's most popular luxury shoes, expertise alone is not enough. It seems one of the key ingredients for making quality shoes is having patience as a virtue.
Take a glimpse behind-the-scenes at the how the Florentine House of shoemaking produces their well-love women's shoes.
Click here to view the gallery.
Photos: Salvatore Ferragamo, Plush, ST, Internet, Video screengrabs