Sangi, an observatory for the world of footwear
Among the startups at MICAM, Sangi Footwear Observatory puts the footwear universe centre stage and offers a 360-degree view of it through a digital archive that explores, selects and catalogues the most significant contemporary sneaker and footwear models, a hub for connection and data designed to connect the community of enthusiasts with the supply chain, and the development of products and projects in collaboration with brands and companies.
“Sangi began as a design and development studio in the footwear world,” explains Pietro Franceschi, who founded the startup together with Alexander Bonzano and Sergio Lupia, “but our project rests on a great deal of research. We see ourselves as an observatory of the footwear universe, seeking out the ‘brightest stars’ (hence the name Sangi, inspired by the Japanese astronomical observatory Saji Observatory, one of the largest in the Land of the Rising Sun – editor’s note) and then cataloguing and archiving the shoes we find most significant. We pay close attention to innovation, aesthetics and trends, which we can also turn into new products. We therefore have a twofold mission: on the one hand we are designers who create products; on the other we are communicators who spread footwear culture.” This dual role helps to link the community of enthusiasts – who can search for and buy shoes, being redirected to the brand’s website – with the industry and its professionals.
At this edition of MICAM, the first version of the Sangi digital platform was unveiled, with more than 3,000 archived shoes from a range of sectors and international brands. “The data-gathering work we are doing, and will continue to do from now on, is very important,” the founder explains. “In other words, we provide a series of data, both general – brand, model, colour, place of production – with models grouped into ‘constellations’ that share the same technical and aesthetic characteristics, and a description and a genuine product profile, detailing the materials of the upper, sole, insole and so on.” Isn’t this information also available on the companies’ own websites? “Yes, but we want to bring all this data together on a single platform and act as a filter for all of it,” Franceschi explains.
As consultants in footwear research, design and development, Sangi works with a range of sportswear and luxury brands to create collections and special projects, as well as co-branding initiatives. Among them are the collaborations with Pantofola d’Oro, Pipitone and Materia; with the latter, a shoe was created that was shown at MICAM and also at CameraModa’s Fashion Hub, dedicated to emerging designers, during the recent Fashion Week. “We work with suppliers and follow every step of the process, from prototyping to sampling, production, communication, promotion and sales through our social channels, which have become a point of reference for enthusiasts and industry professionals, reaching a highly targeted audience. Among our short-term projects is the launch of a collection under the Sangi brand,” concludes Pietro Franceschi.
