Come rain or come shine, the feet of Valmalenco’s inhabitants
were always protected by pedü. These artisanal shoes crafted from rugged
materials were a permanent feature in the lives of the Malenco people up until
the 1950s. Over half a century later, pedü are experiencing a comeback thanks
to a partnership between the old craftswomen of Lanzada, who are custodians of
this age-old manual art, and the young women of the Polo di Formazione
Professionale, a vocational training centre in Sondrio.
Born of this union between the past and the present, the Pedü - Original project
offers an updated version of the footwear that draws on ancient
craftswomanship. Today’s pedü are a combination of tradition, comfort and
style. The upper is created by a double layer of natural fabric, with tough
polyester thread used for the stitching. The insole is made from several layers
of woollen fabric and sewn rather than glued, while the Vibram sole contains up
to 50% recycled rubber. These days the craftswomen have industrial sewing
machines that improve the performance and finish of the shoes without impacting
on the quality or craftsmanship.
