Having established a firm foothold in Isetan Men's department stores since its arrival in Japan 20 years ago, its long-lasting success is supported by the luxury sports style it quickly established.


The 1970s were a decade in which the Italian fashion industry broke free from the control of French fashion houses and flourished. Giorgio Armani launched his own brand, and Pitti Immagine Uomo was held during this decade. And then there's Alberto Guardiani.

"My father passed away suddenly, and I joined the family business in 1972, when I was 20 years old."

It's true that he was in a situation where he had no choice but to take over, but there was no hesitation. For Gardiani, who was born and raised in the unique environment of Marche, where the workshop was on the first floor and the family lived on the second, it was a very natural progression. After all, he always ate meals with the craftsmen.

With the support of craftsmen who were like family to him, Guardiani learned shoemaking step by step. Once he had developed a broader perspective, he made a bold change of direction.


"Gianfranco Ferré, Jil Sander, Byblos. We started OEM production for brands that were leading Italian fashion. My father made very orthodox classic shoes. He started with two or three craftsmen, and at its peak, there were well over 20 of us. I am who I am today because of my father. My respect for him has not diminished in the slightest, but I wanted to create my own style. To do that, I needed to know what the leading creators were thinking."

After approximately 20 years of behind-the-scenes work, Alberto Guardiani launched his eponymous brand in 1991. What he incorporated into Artigiano's manufacturing was the essence of sports, which had risen to prominence in a world increasingly focused on comfort.