Salvatore Ferragamo – A Man Who Was Fascinated By Shoes
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Salvatore Ferragamo – A Man Who Was Fascinated By Shoes

Salvatore Ferragamo is usually among the star group known as the “Shoemaker to the Stars.” Not just a cobbler, but rather an artist, an innovator, and a visionary who remodelled the world of footwear, he took off from a humble village in Italy to the high peak of world fashion. This is a story of passion, creativity, and relentless fixation with shoes. Early Life and Beginnings Salvatore Ferragamo was born on June 5, 1898, in Bonito, a tiny village in Campania, Italy. He was the 11th of 14 children born into a poor farming family. Very early in his life, Ferragamo showed that he was different because of the unusual interest he displayed in shoes-a fascination that greatly puzzled many in his community. Nine years of age, he made his first pair of shoes for his sister’s confirmation, and that was to be the first act of a lifelong devotion to craftsmanship. He knew then that his passion was actually in shoemaking, so he became an apprentice to a local shoemaker in Naples and learned the refined art of making shoes. At age 13, he had already opened a little shop inside his parents’ house, offering custom-made shoes to the community. The American Dream Ferragamo’s ambitions were too big to be held within the confines of a small village. In 1914, at the tender age of 16 years, he made a bold decision to emigrate to the United States, as many Italians have done in search of greener pastures. He settled in Boston where one of his brothers worked in a cowboy boot factory. Yet work at the factory, based on the quantity of output rather than quality, did not fit in with Ferragamo’s artistic satisfaction. Shortly after this, Ferragamo moved to Santa Barbara, California, and bought a small shoe repair shop. He started to work with the rapidly growing new movie industry in Hollywood. The news of his wonderful and comfortable footwear quickly circulated in the movie studios, which started to order specially designed shoes from him for their actors and actresses. Ferragamo’s shoes quickly found their way onto the silent film stars’ feet of Gloria Swanson and Mary Pickford, and he became known as the “Shoemaker to the Stars.” Innovation and Design Ferragamo’s success in Hollywood was not based on his shoemaking quality alone; it was his innovative approach to shoemaking that set him apart. He was not content just to design beautiful shoes, but he wanted to know the anatomy of the foot and therefore the science behind comfortable footwear. Ferragamo enrolled at the University of Southern California, majoring in anatomy, mathematics, and chemical engineering. This education enabled him to make up shoes that were not only stylishly appearing but ergonomically sound input.      View this post on Instagram   A post shared by FERRAGAMO (@ferragamo) One of Ferragamo’s greatest innovations was the steel shank-an extension of that central metal piece of the sole steep steel, thin, and shaped, placed in the arch of the shoe, which supported the foot and eased the pressure off that foot. This invention made high-heeled shoes comfortable for women and finally enabled them to wear elegant, towering heels. Return to Italy and Global Recognition After ten years of victorious work in America, Ferragamo came back to Italy, founded his company in Florence, and chose this city not by chance, as it is rich in artisan traditions of craftsmanship and is strategically located as a fashion city. Here, he continued designing and manufacturing shoes that were going to become legendary. The shoes that Ferragamo designed were no mere accessories-they were art. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren joined the ranks of his avid clientele, and his shoes regularly adorned the covers of fashion magazines worldwide. Ferragamo’s well-known red shoes, which Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz,” further established his status as a master craftsman. Legacy and Impact Salvatore Ferragamo passed away in 1960, though the life and works of this master continue to live in the brand bearing his name. The company has continued to be headquartered in Florence, Italy, a bearer of Italian luxury and craft that has over the years passed through from the narrow production expected only in shoes to a many-lines production of luxurious products like handbags, clothing, and perfumes. Salvatore Ferragamo’s life demonstrated what passion, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence are capable of. From the small Italian village where his curiosity about shoes first sparked, to the house carrying his name today, Ferragamo left a legacy that continued to inspire and move the world of fashion. His shoes have never been just footwear but an affirmation of his firm conviction that style and comfort could go together, and that remains the very core of the brand.

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How Does F.R.I.E.N.D.S Reflect Feminism?
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How Does F.R.I.E.N.D.S Reflect Feminism?

F.R.I.E.N.D.S is undoubtedly the most iconic sitcom that turned out to involve the ruling element of the ’90s, even now holding a place in pop culture. The real question is, however, how it stands before the judging table of feminism. Well, the answer really, just like that famous orange couch of the show, lies on the spectrum between “yes” and “no.” F.R.I.E.N.D.S  is full of strong women who work and are independent and set new expectations of themselves—but it clings to strings of traditional gender roles and archetypal views for portraying women. Friends Reflect Feminism: F.R.I.E.N.D.S stands rather unique in terms of talking about career women. Rachel Green leaves the runaway bride in a posh wedding dress to start her transformation. The luxurious life that her wealthy family provided is ripped out as she takes a plunge into New York City’s tribulations and carves an avenue for her ambitions in the fast-moving world of fashion. Monica Geller is the chef with an organised life; how she sails through the pressure cooker kitchen environment does not evoke the imagery of the docile, homely woman. Even Phoebe Buffay, the free-spirited musician with her weird past doing her thing, stays out of the way of her friends while making her distinct artistic path and displaying financial independence via massage and music. These characters are responsible for their professional goals and their personal growth, unlike the stereotypical sitcom housewife, whose existence is primarily for the husband. F.R.I.E.N.D.S : A Feminist Power? One of the more lasting truths of Friends rests with the tight-knit acquaintance of the six friends.  Finally, Central Perk, that iconic coffee shop, is where Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe not only have a fight with their required repertoire of love interests but actually find a really strong, nurturing network for themselves. This portrayal does not let the assumption breathe that somehow women are intrinsically cutthroat or backstabbing as human beings. Friends envision that female solidarity may be underpinned by mutually supportive relationships. Be it Monica helping Rachel get the job or Phoebe trying to soothe devastated emotions, in every case, right at the very front stands the role of women raising each other up in this show. This show’s emphasis on female friendship speaks to viewers and has refreshed the character of “frenemy” that abounds in the media. However, one needs to look into the narrowness of the representation. All the females in the program F.R.I.E.N.D.S are friends. Still, the group lacks a bit of diversity. All three leading female roles in the show are white and middle-class. Thus, by all definitions, they are beautiful.  The fact that the film’s angle was not diverse is a weakness of the feminist message since the program never got to bring out the lives of women of colour, LGBT+ women, and different socioeconomic classes. Failures and Stereotypes: While F.R.I.E.N.D.S. forwardly progresses on a few levels, it fails on others. Stereotypical gender roles are something the writers constantly revert to for humour. Monica’s obsessive cleaning habits and competitive nature frequently get used for laughs, enhancing the stereotype that women were born to look towards domesticity and rivalry. Similarly, Phoebe’s “ditsy” personality is endearing but reinforces the stereotype of the unintelligent, whimsical woman. This also raises further concerns about how LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in the show. Susan is Ross’s ex-wife and the caricature of a lesbian, sexualizing her and having her erupt into jealous fits regularly. Then there’s Chandler’s father, Helena, who is transgender and a constant source of amusement through insensitive jokes. As such, these portrayals have either perpetuated negative stereotypes or even failed to represent the LGBTQ+ community nuancedly and respectfully. Mixed Legacy: This leaves F.R.I.E.N.D.S. with a mixed bag of legacies on feminism. On the bright side, it has celebrated female independence, career choice, and firm female friendship. Rachel’s growth from a cosseted young woman to an independent fashion executive legate stands as a lesson in feminine ambition. The unflinching support system that the women provide for each other definitely goes against the age-old adage that women are at their most competitive. Nevertheless, the program still hosts some rather conventional gender roles and provides a very slim representation of women. The stereotypes in the portrayal of female characters and their non-variance bring down its competence to stand as a strong feminist message. At best, this movie is tactless and stereotypical in its treatment of LGBTQ+ characters.   Ultimately, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is such a product of its time: it reflects some ideals of feminism while perpetuating others. Even today, if one were to watch a sitcom, one would have to cast a critical eye over it so as to appreciate how the progressive aspects were hard-wired into this series while it remained shortsighted on so many other fronts.

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