At a tender age of 17, Salvatore Ferragamo left his home town, Bonito, in Italy to broaden his horizon in the US, where he later became a shoe designer for Hollywood celebs such as Mary Pickford, Pola Negri, Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Lilian Grish and fellow Italian Rudolph Valentino.
In addition, his collaboration with film-maker Cecil B DeMille supplied shoes for costumes in The Ten Commandments (1923) and The King Of Kings (1927).
The celebrated shoemaker was among the Italian colony on the West Coast pursuing an American Dream. Their presence and influence on Californian architecture, art, crafts, theatre and cinemas, during Ferragamo's time in the US from 1915 till 1927, are reflected in the "Italy in Hollywood" exhibition staged at Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence till March next year.
The exhibition is designed to evoke a 1920s American film studio that makes visitors feel as if they were on set, in exploring eight rooms featuring paintings, photographs, objects, film clips, clothing and vintage shoes.
A section illustrates how actors, Lina Cavalieri, Enrico Caruso, Tina Modotti and Rudolph Valentino, made Italian qualities and style appreciated in American cinema.
Other Italian actors in Hollywood included Henry Armetta, Cesare Gravina, Luigi Montagna and comedian Monty Banks (Mario Bianchi) while filmmakers included Frank Capra, Frank Borzage and Robert Vignola.
The Hollywood Boot Shop that Ferragamo operated on Hollywood Boulevard is depicted in the last room, with a display of shoes created for American cinema's male and female protagonists as well as their outfits and costumes.
In 1927, he returned to Italy and founded his eponymous company in Florence.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the Salvatore Ferragamo brand has launched a capsule collection inspired by shoes made in the 1920s and 1930s for silver-screen actors.
Ramon riding boot, Silence and Special two-tone lace up shoes worn by the likes of Rudolph Valentino were designed during Ferragamo's time in the US.
Gloria Swanson wore Bella brushed calfskin pump with ankle strap, decorated with an asymmetric magnolia nappa bow, on the set of Sadie Thompson directed by Raoul Walsh in 1928.
A 1929 photograph shows Mary Pickford, one of silent cinema's pre-eminent actresses and producers, wearing Assoluta closed shoe in magnolia suede with double straps across instep in black brushed calfskin.
The Foxtrot T-strap shoe was created in 1932 for Joan Crawford, who was one of Ferragamo's most loyal American customers.
These six designs have been recreated for the capsule collection available at certain Ferragamo boutiques.
