Four years of uninterrupted collaboration culminate in five exclusive models. We went to Castel D’Ario in the province of Mantua to visit the home of Astorflex, hear about their history, and witness firsthand an Italian manufacturing reality with over two centuries of experience.
Four years of uninterrupted collaboration culminate in five exclusive models. We went to Castel D’Ario in the province of Mantua to visit the home of Astorflex, hear about their history, and witness firsthand an Italian manufacturing reality with over two centuries of experience.
The company was founded in 1820 as a workshop of the Travenzoli family, producing and restoring shoes for the countryside in the Mantua area. The turning point came with the introduction of the ‘ideal’ construction method by Alfredo Travenzoli, which led to the success of their footwear beyond Mantua and Italy in the 1960s.
The Travenzoli shoe factory officially became Astorflex in 1965, and since 1984, the company has been led by Fabio, who, open to evolution and innovation, has brought it into the modern era, thus beginning the story of Astorflex as we know it today.
Some questions to Franco Vivaldi, Astorflex project manager
Why did you choose “la scarpa buona” as a claim?
A good shoe makes you feel good, and makes you forget you’re even wearing shoes, and it’s the choice of materials that allows it to adapt to all foot shapes, just like the ‘ideal’ construction. One element that’s often overlooked is the lining, made from full-grain calfskin with vegetable tanning, which is antibacterial and antifungal, creating a dry and comfortable environment inside the shoe. To this, we add one of the few artificial materials we use: memory foam, allowing us to offer a shoe with a customized, unforced insole.
A good shoe also because here we act with respect—respect for the environment, for the supply chain, for the people who work with us, and for the product.
"A good shoe makes you feel good, and makes you forget you're even wearing shoes."
Can you tell us about your vision of Made in Italy?
Our product reflects an authentic respect for craftsmanship in Italy. We support a network of Italian workers, with Tuscan tanneries and artisans who have collaborated with us for years, sharing a common vision. The short supply chain gives us creative and productive flexibility, which would be impossible to achieve by working abroad.
Our customer is becoming increasingly discerning, seeking the right balance between quality and price, an ethical approach, and greater attention to the environment.
And what about Vintage55 collaboration?
We met and, through conversation, discovered a certain affinity for taste and thought, which became the starting point for customizing models from our archive or even creating new ones. With Vintage55, we share a passion for quality products and iconic pieces from the past. Creating exclusive models with timeless aesthetic qualities suited to contemporary times is part of Vintage55’s DNA, and I believe it was inspiring for both of us.
"Here at Astorflex, the robot has adapted to the pace of humans, not the other way around."
Today we were working on the Vootflex with Vintage55 (as seen in the video). The upper and sole are joined using the ‘ideal’ construction, stitched with a leather welt around the perimeter. The sole is made of buffalo leather with an anti-slip tread, and the upper is treated suede for a vintage effect. The laces are cotton, and the eyelets are antiqued brass.
About 45 people are involved in making a shoe. It starts with cutting the leather, then there’s sewing, and then continues with assembly and any treatments that give the shoe its true character. Finally, there’s the roughing and perimeter milling phase, all done by hand, but historically, this has been the most physically demanding and unpleasant part of the process.
This thinking led us to purchase and introduce a robotic anthropomorphic arm into the production process, which handles the most complex and strenuous part of the roughing process. However, we want to emphasize that this hasn’t sped up shoe production, as the rest of the processes remain unchanged. Here at Astorflex, the robot has adapted to the pace of humans, not the other way around. And of course, the subsequent processes that require more attention are still done by hand.
For this collection we designed five exclusive models with Astroflex, they’re available in all our stores and online! Come visit us and discover a genuine made in Italy product.
