If every style icon on Earth could agree on one thing, it would be this: When it comes to impeccable sartorial style, no nation does it quite so well as the Italians.
As the famous saying goes “Speak English. Drive German. Dress Italian“. Whether this adage holds true or not, Italy’s creative influence in the history of fashion and luxury truly cannot be understated. Fact.
What else could you expect from a country where the concept of fare la bella figura (meaning “to make a good impression”) is not just an integral part of the culture but a way of life.
We’re the first to admit that we’ve had a style-crush on Italian designs and that unmistakable “Made-in-Italy” cachet since, well, forever.
We now have found real, true, long-lasting love.
Leave it to M.Gemi to make modern-day Italian luxuries all that more covetable.
Take it from us: A love letter to exquisite craftsmanship and a masterclass in Italian class — understated, soft-spoken, effortlessly glamour with a subtle touch of quintessential Italian opulence— M.Gemi is your exclusive access to Italy’s most revered craftsmen, from Toscana to Lucca, from Le Marche to Campania.
Founded in 2015 by Maria Gangemi, M.Gemi is a direct-to-consumer footwear brand that produces an exquisite collection of women’s and men’s shoes handcrafted by local artisans in small, family-owned Italian workshops at prices never before possible.
Fancy Italian-made shoes — from sneakers and heels to boots and loafers — with a decidedly un-fancy price tag.
Suddenly, we’re all in.
More craft, less cost: Artisanal excellence at modest prices
M.Gemi makes a strong case for the superior quality of Italian shoes.
The team behind M.Gemi wanted to craft world-class shoes —the most luxurious, well-crafted, stylish, and hard-working actually-made-in-Italy shoes.
And they did.
To say their pieces are consciously crafted doesn’t even come close to describing the care and attention, the pleasure and pride, that goes into every shoe.
Rumour has it that their moccasin expert Norina takes a tiny flame to the edges of the shoe to singe away any loose threads. How is that for attention to detail?
“Made in Italy the old way and sold the new way” (read: directly to consumers, online) is its modus operandi.
And old really is gold for M.Gemi. Honouring the highest standards of traditional Italian shoemaking and old school luxury craftsmanship, M.Gemi is sewn by hand, by families who have been honing their craft for generations, and it shows.
The collection boasts both trendy and traditional styles, with an unparalleled level of finesse and authenticity. All pieces are divinely crafted from the most luxurious materials, from buttery-soft suede to the finest leather.
M.Gemi’s shoes look expensive and feel expensive, but they aren’t actually that expensive.
We know: Finding exquisitely rendered footwear without the markups of luxury brands is no easy feat feet.
But this is exactly what M.Gemi did: Luxury shoes that don’t cost you a fortune. Well under, in fact.
It almost sounds too good to be true but M.Gemi shoes are priced approximately 40-60% below traditional luxury styles. We’re talking around USD 198 for their signature loafers that would typically cost around USD 450 for a similar quality [insert your designer of choice here] pair.
Superlative shoes, capsule classics
The transformative power of a great pair of shoes is very real. There’s an old adage (and forgive us —we’re paraphrasing): “Give someone the right shoes and they can conquer the world.“
A coveted destination for impossibly chic footwear without trying too hard, M.Gemi has certainly won our hearts and soles.
And looking at the numbers, we are not alone:
Some of M. Gemi shoes are so popular in fact that they sell out time and time again — over 200,000 pairs (and counting) of their iconic Felize loafers were sold, and once boasted a waitlist of more than 36,000 people.
If you haven’t dressed your feet in the finest of Italian shoes, consider this an official notice.
Not sure where to start?
Start building your capsule shoe closet with our selection of reliable, go-to styles. They will surely become staples in your footwear rotation, maximise your wardrobe’s potential and last you years, not seasons.
A word of warning: With a commitment to work with small artisan workshops in Italy, each style is available in limited quantities. So, don’t hesitate too long. These shoes will sell out before you can say, “La Dolce Vita”.
The cornerstones of a stylish shoedrobe for women
Classic flats: The Felize
The forever-shoe par excellence.
A favourite among discerning fashionistas, M.Gemi’s most loved moccasin is begging to be photographed— but the iconic Felize driving shoe looks great even when the paparazzi aren’t watching.
The pinnacle of effortlessly polished style, you’re not going to get chicer flats to wear around-the-clock, lounging (working) around the house or running errands.
Ankle boots: The Corsa
Meet the well-heeled ankle boot you’ll reach for season after season.
The Corsa Concavo is as dreamy as it gets—incredibly flattering, with comfort to spare, unparalleled versatility and endless walkability (thanks to its perfect low block heel and soft oval toe).
The signature bootie will elevate any outfit (jeans, skirts, dresses) and get you compliments. All. The. Time.
(House) Slippers: The Aurora
Who needs an ultra-luxe pair of faux shearling slippers in her life? The answer is everyone.
A dream when you’re WFH (but make it runway-ready), the one-and-done Aurora slip-on will elevate every look—both inside and out.
Slip them on in the morning, pour yourself a cappuccino and you will probably (certainly) never want to take them off.
Classic pump: The Esatto 90MM
Every woman needs a flattering pair of pumps. Period.
Sophisticated, sleek, and stylish, these Esatto heels are a wardrobe workhorse that will get you from work day to cocktail hour — flawlessly.
Seemingly simple, powerfully transformative.
This is your chance to shine (quite literally).
The 4 essentials of any well-crafted shoe closet for men
White sneakers: The Lucente
Comfort-seekers hoping for tasteful, understated, and wholly timeless sneakers, consider yourselves served.
Streamlined and sleek, The Lucente is crafted in a classic-essentialist style that will give you all the clean and crisp vibes you could ask for.
Dress shoe: The Alrigo
A classic lace-up silhouette, elevated.
From the hand-burnished leather, to the handsome perforated brogue detailing, this is a pair to feel like an Italian fashion god.
Chelsea boots: The Dritto
Timeless style, traditional craftsmanship.
A stylish take on the classic Chelsea boot, The Ditto will keep you warm while remaining effortlessly cool.
Dress them up for work or down for the weekend. These do-it-all boots will rock everything from jeans to suits.
Driving shoe: The Banco
Penny loafer, meet driving moccasin. The Banco mixes the best of both iconic shapes to offer timeless modernity.
The best part? You can wear these styles from dock to dinner —no swap necessary.
This style of shoe is so comfortable they are perfect for time spent working from home and walking on charming cobbled streets.
Now all is left to do is slip on these beauties to instantly feel transported to Italy, enjoying a piece of Mediterranean sunshine. (No travel required.)
Fresh news: M.Gemi also offers a selection of peripheral leather goods like belts and a recently launched line of artisan-made handbags, each piece flaunting the same top grade of craftsmanship as the brand’s pristine footwear.
