How Italian-Based Gia Borghini Became A Global Brand

Irrespective of whether you’ve spotted Gia Borghini’s beautiful silhouettes on celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Ashley Graham or Gabrielle Union-Wade, the world’s top influencers, or on the webpages of on the web stockists like Farfetch and the shelves of trend purveyors Kith, the Italian-based mostly footwear manufacturer has designed its possess category of elevated shoes and purses — and helps make a good circumstance for swapping out sneakers.

It’s no coincidence that the fashion manufacturer with a movie star pursuing, Gia Borghini, hails from Italy: its founder — or architect, which is remarkably fitting — Barbara Borghini, was generally surrounded by elegance, haute couture style (many legacy brands are Italian), the significance of high top quality development, and a robust perception of instinct.

“I am a genuine Italian, so I allow my thoughts and intuition guidebook me a lot more than logic,” Borghini shares. “It’s almost certainly not a proper issue to say for somebody who operates a business, but I am pretty honest about it. I consider women are naturally additional instinctive, and this can be our greatest energy and what lets us to do and juggle so lots of matters in everyday living.”

Introduced in 2016, Gia Borghini promptly catapulted to “It” position when Danish influencer and stylist Pernille Teisbaek designed a collaboration with the manufacturer.

Gia Borghini is named right after Borghini’s daughter, Ginevra, who Barbara says is “a powerful source of inspiration.” With feminine empowerment getting 1 of the most important pillars of the brand name, it’s serendipitous that it arrived on the scene in 2016.

Gia Borghini stands for the quality of timeless items, no matter if flats (generally with a distinct twist that has become a signature trait of Gia Borghini), boots or heels — the brand name supports community Italian artisans, because it believes in the electricity and attractiveness of craftsmanship. The manufacturer much more recently additional carryalls and eyewear to its product assortment.

Gia Borghini is recognized for its curated collections with superstars like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, whose confined-launch collab was adopted by a remarkably-expected drop with Pernille Teisbaek. The launch with Teisbaek was so successful, it led to the stylist’s appointment as Resourceful Expert in Spring 2021.

With a really engaged local community of 200K Instagram followers, distribution in around 500 on line and physical stockists, and an viewers of vogue enthusiasts waiting on Gia Borghini’s most recent collections, Borghini’s instinct is plainly on-stage.

Uncover how the electrical power of instinct and the right influencer collaborations performed a part in Gia Borghini’s meteoric rise in the style landscape.

Karin Eldor: What was the spark or breakthrough that led you to launch Gia Borghini?

Barbara Borghini: Following many yrs of currently being a keep-at-house mum and entirely focusing on my spouse and children, I was wanting for a new encounter and discovering my deep enthusiasm for sneakers. I also speedily realized that possessing access at my fingertips to the finest artisans in Florence experienced a substantial prospective.

Eldor: How did you recognize the opportunity or whitespace in the industry? It is especially exciting mainly because you are from Europe – specially Italy – where by you had been surrounded by the legacy brands of haute couture. I enjoy that you recognized a area for your brand, which nonetheless leans on beautiful development and silhouettes, and large quality craftsmanship.

Borghini: A good deal of footwear corporations at that time — in 2016 — had been designed by males and run from their standpoint. I needed to disrupt that narrative. Pretty much 90% of my workforce are women of all ages. In terms of style and design and craftsmanship, driving about, conference and conversing to local artisans and trend business people assisted form the strategy for the brand that you see today. I also assume it’s really vital to keep curious and to in no way stop exchanging thoughts, mastering, listening, and making a powerful workforce of specialists based mostly in diverse pieces of the environment, who can provide diverse perspectives to the table.

Eldor: Of study course, Gia Borghini’s achievements is attributed to elevated, on-stage, innovative silhouettes and patterns, and large top quality craftsmanship. How did you guarantee the environment comprehended this messaging, as a international footwear brand name?

Borghini: I check out to converse through our material and our social media. By means of the unique voices that assistance the model and our prospects. We really consider to produce trendy, relaxed and elevated shoes with solid interaction and often considerate shopper company. I also believe observing influential women of all ages like Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Ashley Graham putting on our sneakers once more and once again is a true testament to the comfort and quality we offer you.

Eldor: Gia Borghini has leveraged the power of *the ideal* collaborations, with star energy like Pernille Teisbaek, Chiara Ferragni and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Can you share a little bit extra about what led to these 3 collaborations?

Borghini: I approached just about every a person of these women just simply because I could realize myself in their fashion — I could see a lot of similarities but interpreted in distinct strategies. We appeared to share quite a few similar passions and values throughout inside, artwork, trend, and spouse and children. I also adore to construct sturdy and extended-long lasting interactions. I want to build a Gia Borghini family members, more than just a crew! Pernille is now a Creative Consultant, Chiara carries on to don our footwear and assistance the brand, Rosie has a new project coming up with us soon after collaborating on four collections, and there’s so a great deal far more to come…

Eldor: What guidance do you have for other manner brand names, hunting to concentrate on collaborations?

Borghini: Stick to your intuition. Pick out a collaborator since you are individually fascinated and really feel they can provide a diverse stage of watch to your model, although sharing the similar values. At times collaborating without a strategy, entirely based mostly on your intuition, is the finest technique. To me that is a correct reliable partnership. The consumer sees by way of every little thing these times, so it is pretty essential to be genuine and genuine, and the relaxation will abide by.

Eldor: You have also aligned with major-tier influencers. Can you share your thoughts on the purpose influencers have performed in your brand’s good results?

Borghini: The influencers and buddies of the property imply so a lot to me individually and are the important ingredient to the achievement of the manufacturer. I come to feel like they are all portion of the family. We try out as a lot as probable to continue operating with the expertise who has generally supported us from day one particular.

Eldor: I appreciate that you analyzed marketing and advertising and communications early on – how do you implement this talent set to your current role as a founder? I’m guaranteed that realizing the artwork of storytelling is so significant to your good results as a brand founder and entrepreneur!

Borghini: I strongly imagine that conversation is essential. The market is amazingly competitive, so you have to have a powerful, very clear and loud voice to endure and be recognized at an intercontinental level.

Eldor: Do you have any assistance for other girls who are hunting to start a manner brand name? It can be these types of an overwhelming go.

Borghini: It is really scary but if you feel in it and truly feel you have a sturdy message to provide, you should absolutely go for it — but be geared up to operate quite hard and also sacrifice some matters.

Eldor: Developing a world-wide manner brand is not usually an quick feat, but we develop stronger from these problems alongside the way! Can you share a instant that was demanding or a slip-up that you effectively overcame and learned from?

Borghini: Each working day there is a new problem and I also frequently make errors. But what is effective for me is to get a stage back again, regroup with my staff and strategize on how to best move ahead. I like a ‘trial and error’ tactic rather than possessing a target and not going just after it at all.