BARBERA BIELLA'S HANDMADE SHOES
“All our lives we have heard our father called Maestro and this has always made us proud of him, now that they call us Maestro we know that it is our father who is very proud of us.”
Barbera Sandro & Figli is an artisanal company rooted in a long tradition of leather processing to create high-quality, entirely handmade footwear. For over 50 years, our family has been producing shoes according to the ancient shoemaking traditions of our region.
Founded in 1968 in Biella by our parents Sandro and Luciana, Barbera Sandro & Figli is headquartered in the city. On the occasion of our 50th anniversary, the company received the "Eccellenza Artigiana Piemonte" (Piedmont Artisan Excellence) award, followed by the "Eccellenze Italiane" (Italian Excellence) and "Artigiano del Cuore" (Artisan of the Heart) awards. These three accolades, along with our collaborations with leading fashion companies, have filled us with pride and satisfaction for our work.
Barbera shoes are unique and completely customizable models , because they are created one at a time and proudly Made in Italy .
The desire to offer a refined, long-lasting accessory, created to meet the style and comfort needs of each individual customer, means that the collections range from the most youthful, modern and exclusive models to the classic and timeless ones (for both men and women). Each shoe is produced with the utmost care, aimed at seeking out the best materials (strictly Made in Italy), designing and developing exclusive processes and colors, such as hand-dyed , stone-wax wash and garment-dyed.
Let's retrace the company's history with Andrea Barbera.
Tell us about your journey and how your business was born.
Barbera Sandro e Figli is an artisan workshop that has been producing quality footwear for over 50 years, strictly by hand and using 100% Made in Italy materials . The company was started in 1968 by our parents, Sandro and Luciana, and over the years, we brothers, Stefano and Andrea, took over. For both of us, continuing the family business was a natural progression, born from learning the secrets of the trade from our father and, above all, from being "infected" by his passion for creating unique products with his own hands, capable of embodying all the beauty and quality of Italian craftsmanship.
How do you carry on tradition while keeping up with the times?
For us, handcrafting shoes isn't just about creating elegant footwear, it's also about researching innovative workmanship and materials to ensure our customers enjoy maximum comfort, even when purchasing leather shoes. We've achieved this goal after many years of research, hands-on experience, and constant updating on market innovations. Furthermore, we've chosen to give a green edge to many of our collections, selecting eco-friendly materials, such as Merino wool for our iconic Wooly shoes , or eco-friendly rubber for the soles. We've also invested heavily in the digital sphere, both to raise awareness and to maintain a channel of communication with our customers near and far. We've launched our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and created a website with an e-commerce site, so we can always be reached and tell our followers a little about ourselves.
What are the iconic pieces that characterize the brand?
Certainly one of our most popular creations is our unisex Wooly sneaker, created in collaboration with the designers at Reda Active . Crafted from New Zealand Merino wool, it pays homage to our region, known for its fine fabrics. Thanks to the properties of this material, it can be worn year-round (wool guarantees exceptional thermal comfort) and can be paired with a casual look or even a suit. To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we created our Barberine , Belgian loafers with an exclusive design, crafted from calfskin, suede, and fabrics with a Flex construction , combining maximum comfort with an elegant, ultra-trendy style. Last but not least, our Multicolor, which have made us known throughout the world. This is a line of men's Oxfords crafted and dyed entirely by hand. One of their strengths is the extensive customization options, as customers can choose the color of every single part of the shoe.
What artisanal techniques are part of your heritage and do you still use today?
As mentioned, we make extensive use of the Black Flex manufacturing technique, our exclusive process, which increases the softness of the shoe, giving it a distinctive aesthetic and, above all, great flexibility. Another traditional technique that we still use today for some models is hand dyeing, which gives the shoes unique shades of color. Finally, there is the "stonewashed" manufacturing process: as the name suggests, with this technique the shoes are "washed" with stones to give them a vintage effect , soften the leather and create a unique texture, with a bold and ever-present style.
What are your plans for the future and what strategies are you developing to overcome this time?
We're definitely focusing heavily on digital right now, continuing to invest in online communication, but also implementing new services to meet our customers' needs, such as the Virtual Shop . This allows you to schedule a video call on WhatsApp to virtually visit our workshop and get advice on the size and style of our models. Beyond the fact that connecting with people is one of the aspects we love most about our work, today more than ever we believe that human connections, even remote ones, make the difference for both us and our customers.