Cruelty-free shoes to keep up with sustainability trends without sacrificing comfort and elegance. This is how Solari Milano was born: the new men’s footwear brand that combines being made in Italy, respect for the environment and styles that match the office or an elegant event. Solari Milano shoes are made with a corn fabric, which is breathable, durable, water resistant, yet extremely soft. Solari shoes are 100% Italian, with the production based in Tuscany.
The project started a year and a half ago and has required endless prototypes, testing and research to arrive at our current models. The product line currently consists of three models: oxfords, loafers and brogues. Blake construction, corn leather, organic fabric laces, bamboo lining, and recycled rubber soles are the some of the main characteristics. From an aesthetic point of view it may seem similar to animal skin, but it is only appearance; Solari Milano uses only cruelty-free products, thus safeguarding the lives of animals while contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and saving water.
The idea of Solari Milano came up in 2020, in the mind of the 26-year-old Niccolò Amati. Niccolò did not study fashion. Rather, he studied and worked in the banking sector between New York and London. Of course, he always had attention and respect towards the planet and animals. But, then Covid came. “During the first wave of the pandemic, I had a lot of time to think. I was at a crossing point in my life, and those days locked at home almost “forced” me to think about what I could do. I remember that, for example, in the office there was always particular attention to the dress code, especially shoes “.
One day, a little by chance, Niccolò discovered the tanning processes for animal skins. He was shocked by the pollution, and how many animals are slaughtered and involved in the footwear industry. “I wondered: there are 300 people on my floor alone, in a nine-story building and almost everyone wears leather shoes. Is there an alternative? Unfortunately, there are many poor products and others that practice more or less subtle “green-washing” strategies in the market today».
And at that point the soul of an entrepreneur emerged. It wasn’t easy, but with the help of Sister Orsola, a marketing expert, Solari Milano was born.