By Kyle Marie McMahon | Styling by Sofia Lujan | Photos by Jessica Bratton |
Tucked away in Raleigh’s Village District, Rangoni Firenze is a slice of Italian craftsmanship with a heart for the local community. For nine years, manager Edna Kovitz has been the welcoming face of the brand, offering Raleighites a unique blend of timeless style, exceptional quality, and a personalized shopping experience. We recently spoke with Kovitz following the store’s successful fall fashion show to discuss the inspiration behind the new designs, the legacy of the Rangoni family, and what makes her Raleigh boutique so special.
Midtown: The store recently hosted a fashion show with Sofia Lujan. Could you describe the atmosphere of the event, and what it was like seeing the new collection presented in that way?
Edna Kovitz: The atmosphere was amazing! Our guests enjoyed mingling and browsing the new fall collection while enjoying Aperol spritzes and light bites from CapriFlavors.
Joey Napierkowski with Joseph William Interiors and Events oversaw the details for the event. From building a platform runway with a teal cheetah print carpet and bringing in a bar and furniture from Nadeau Furniture, to hanging a beautiful painting by large-scale artist Jenny Fassino as a backdrop for our seated model, Joey took care of everything. He even brought his lively personality to the stage as our emcee for the show.
Sofia Lujan did her magic styling for our models with fashions from Mode Consignment and Deni (an up-and-coming luxury brand of sustainable adjustable clothing). I knew when I told Sofia I was having a fashion show and she offered to help, the models would be demonstrating great ways of styling the shoes.
Speaking of the new fall collection, what are some of the key themes or inspirations behind Valentina Rangoni’s latest designs?
EK: Valentina often gets her inspiration from nature and her travels. The little droplet-shaped hardware that she used on the fall/winter collection was inspired by looking at raindrops. Her latest inspiration came from her recent wedding. Her new line that will carry brides from the altar to the dance floor has just launched.
Are there one or two standout styles from the new collection that you and your customers are particularly excited about? What makes them special?
EK: Her little comma-shaped block heel with a pointed toe is a favorite. It’s low and stable, but very sophisticated and elegant. Even people who aren’t typically fans of pointed shoes are surprised to find these shoes very comfortable.
Rangoni is a third-generation family business. How does that rich history of “Made in Italy” craftsmanship influence the quality and feel of the shoes in the store today?
EK: Ugo Rangoni started making shoes in 1934. His son Niccolo Rangoni took over the company at the age of 18 upon his father’s death. The Rangoni family has three daughters, two of whom—Carolina and Valentina—are already in the family business. The younger daughter, Beatrice, will most likely join the business once she finishes school. They take pride in their rich family heritage of making high-quality Italian shoes. The shoes are handcrafted in their own factory in Florence, Italy. A lot of love and detail can be felt in the shoes they craft.
As a third-generation designer, how does Valentina Rangoni balance honoring the brand’s classic tradition while introducing her own modern perspective?
EK: Valentina learned the art of making quality shoes from her father and later received a university degree in shoe design. The original Amali brand is a more classic line. Valentina saw the need to design a line that would draw on a younger audience, and started designing her own line in 2016. Her Valentina line is becoming increasingly more popular among designers and the shoe world. She was recently published in Footwear Plus as being Florence’s Finest.
You’re on the front lines interacting with customers every day. In your experience, what is it about a Rangoni shoe that creates such loyal followers, and what makes the company itself so special to represent?
EK: It’s the styles, comfort, and quality of the shoes. I feel honored to manage one of their six stores in the U.S. I’ve been the manager of the Raleigh store for nine years. Of course, everyone can order online, but we offer more. Not only do we provide good service, but beyond that we strive to make our customers feel at home, and to give [them] a unique and enjoyable quality experience that they will remember us by. Sometimes it’s just sitting down having conversations and sharing stories with a beverage, and sometimes it’s live music with food and wine.
We’ve even hosted a Saturday morning toe yoga class! We like partnering with the community and helping others out. We’re always open to working with others for events.
