Introduction to Pasquale Di Fabrizio, the “Shoemaker to the Stars”
In a shoe workshop in Los Angeles, the footprints of Hollywood’s history are stored from floor to ceiling, safeguarded by a craftsman who claims his profession is on its last legs. The collection originated from the work of Pasquale Di Fabrizio, an Italian known as “the shoemaker to the stars,” who handcrafted footwear for over four decades for figures like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, Fred Astaire, and Michael Jackson.
The Collection: A Treasure Trove of Celebrity Foot Measurements
Di Fabrizio knew these feet like the back of his hand, and although he revealed some secrets (like the centimeters that earned him favors from various celebrities), other details are preserved in these boxes that eventually came into the hands of Chris Francis, a 48-year-old shoemaker who not only preserves this piece of history but also an almost extinct craft.
- The collection caters to a wide range of clients, from casino owners to actors and artists in Las Vegas, Broadway, Hollywood, and beyond, spanning from the 1960s to 2008.
- Some boxes contain autographs or dedications, like one from actress Anjelica Houston.
- Other boxes hold designs used in films or TV shows, such as those for Sarah Jessica Parker or Julie Andrews.
- The list of stars that adorn the walls is impressive, including Diane Keaton and the late Ace Frehley from Kiss.
“Something Unique”
Francis never met Di Fabrizio but safeguards his legacy with the same fervor he maintains for a craft that, like the boxes, he says is a thing of the past.
Once upon a time, Hollywood was an ideal place for the craft due to the specific demands of the entertainment industry, which led many stars to commission custom-made items.
“Celebrities boasted about how much they paid for a pair of shoes and wanted something unique. Today, more and more celebrities want free shoes, which is killing off shoemakers like me,” laments Francis.
Alongside changes in the industry brought by social media, mass production altered consumption patterns in the fashion industry, making artisanal work like Francis’s or Di Fabrizio’s unsustainable. The latter charged thousands of dollars to his prestigious clientele.
Chris Francis: Preserving a Dying Craft
Francis began with clothing, discovering a rock scene stylist while hand-stitching a leather jacket in a public park bench.
“In Los Angeles, it’s easy to be in the right place at the right time,” he jokes.
But shoes became his true passion. He started making them in his kitchen, going door-to-door seeking an apprenticeship with master craftsmen who initially doubted him due to his old-school rocker appearance.
“They’d tell me to join a band,” he recounts.
“They were old-world guys (…) didn’t speak English well, so you had to watch and learn.”
“They came from places like Iran, Syria, who’d grown up in shoe factories in politically troubled countries (…) found success here in the US, where they could maintain this ancient craft, until it became unsustainable. Then they switched to repairs.”
Francis, who stays in business partly out of love for the art, sometimes regrets not heeding one of their warnings.
“‘Why be a shoemaker?’ they said. ‘Nowadays, people can buy shoes for twenty dollars,'” he recalls.
“As a profession,” he affirms, “it’s extremely difficult to survive.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pasquale Di Fabrizio? An Italian shoemaker known as “the shoemaker to the stars,” who handcrafted footwear for over four decades for numerous celebrities.
- What is the significance of Chris Francis’s collection? It preserves a piece of Hollywood history and an almost extinct craft, showcasing the foot measurements of numerous celebrities.
- Why is the shoemaking profession struggling? Changes in the entertainment industry, mass production, and the shift towards free shoes for celebrities have made artisanal work unsustainable.
