How Italian-Based Gia Borghini Became A Global Brand

Regardless of whether you’ve noticed Gia Borghini’s beautiful silhouettes on stars like Hailey Bieber, Ashley Graham or Gabrielle Union-Wade, the world’s leading influencers, or on the internet pages of on line stockists like Farfetch and the cabinets of style purveyors Kith, the Italian-dependent footwear brand name has produced its own classification of elevated footwear and purses — and can make a reliable situation for swapping out sneakers.

It is no coincidence that the manner brand with a superstar subsequent, Gia Borghini, hails from Italy: its founder — or architect, which is extremely fitting — Barbara Borghini, was often surrounded by elegance, haute couture trend (quite a few legacy manufacturers are Italian), the significance of higher excellent design, and a potent feeling of intuition.

“I am a accurate Italian, so I enable my feelings and instinct tutorial me extra than logic,” Borghini shares. “It’s probably not a correct issue to say for an individual who runs a business, but I am quite sincere about it. I feel females are the natural way extra instinctive, and this can be our largest energy and what permits us to do and juggle so many items in lifestyle.”

Introduced in 2016, Gia Borghini speedily catapulted to “It” status when Danish influencer and stylist Pernille Teisbaek made a collaboration with the brand name.

Gia Borghini is named following Borghini’s daughter, Ginevra, who Barbara says is “a impressive supply of inspiration.” With woman empowerment currently being 1 of the primary pillars of the brand name, it is serendipitous that it arrived on the scene in 2016.

Gia Borghini stands for the excellent of timeless items, whether flats (constantly with a exclusive twist that has come to be a signature trait of Gia Borghini), boots or heels — the model supports nearby Italian artisans, simply because it believes in the electricity and elegance of craftsmanship. The manufacturer more not long ago additional carryalls and eyewear to its solution assortment.

Gia Borghini is known for its curated collections with celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, whose limited-launch collab was followed by a very-predicted drop with Pernille Teisbaek. The start with Teisbaek was so thriving, it led to the stylist’s appointment as Imaginative Advisor in Spring 2021.

With a extremely engaged local community of 200K Instagram followers, distribution in over 500 on the internet and actual physical stockists, and an viewers of manner fans waiting around on Gia Borghini’s newest collections, Borghini’s intuition is evidently on-point.

Explore how the power of instinct and the suitable influencer collaborations played a job in Gia Borghini’s meteoric increase in the manner landscape.

Karin Eldor: What was the spark or breakthrough that led you to launch Gia Borghini?

Barbara Borghini: Following quite a few years of currently being a remain-at-house mum and thoroughly focusing on my relatives, I was searching for a new knowledge and exploring my deep passion for sneakers. I also swiftly recognized that having entry at my fingertips to the most effective artisans in Florence had a big possible.

Eldor: How did you establish the possibility or whitespace in the current market? It is in particular fascinating since you’re from Europe – exclusively Italy – where you ended up surrounded by the legacy brands of haute couture. I adore that you determined a area for your brand name, which even now leans on magnificent design and silhouettes, and high good quality craftsmanship.

Borghini: A ton of footwear companies at that time — in 2016 — were being constructed by adult men and run from their standpoint. I preferred to disrupt that narrative. Almost 90% of my staff are gals. In terms of style and design and craftsmanship, driving around, conference and talking to area artisans and style business owners helped condition the idea for the brand that you see nowadays. I also consider it is quite essential to continue to be curious and to by no means prevent exchanging thoughts, studying, listening, and building a robust workforce of experts based mostly in distinct sections of the world, who can deliver distinctive views to the table.

Eldor: Of program, Gia Borghini’s good results is attributed to elevated, on-stage, subtle silhouettes and types, and superior excellent craftsmanship. How did you make certain the environment recognized this messaging, as a international footwear model?

Borghini: I try out to converse by way of our written content and our social media. As a result of the distinctive voices that assistance the brand and our prospects. We definitely try out to create modern, relaxed and elevated footwear with solid conversation and usually considerate buyer provider. I also consider seeing influential women like Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Ashley Graham sporting our sneakers once again and once again is a real testomony to the comfort and excellent we present.

Eldor: Gia Borghini has leveraged the ability of *the suitable* collaborations, with star energy like Pernille Teisbaek, Chiara Ferragni and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Can you share a little bit more about what led to these 3 collaborations?

Borghini: I approached each individual a single of these women simply just because I could realize myself in their design and style — I could see many similarities but interpreted in different methods. We seemed to share a lot of very similar pursuits and values throughout interior, artwork, manner, and family. I also adore to build robust and extended-long lasting interactions. I want to build a Gia Borghini loved ones, additional than just a crew! Pernille is now a Resourceful Marketing consultant, Chiara continues to don our shoes and assistance the brand name, Rosie has a new venture coming up with us immediately after collaborating on 4 collections, and there is so much much more to come…

Eldor: What tips do you have for other vogue makes, searching to concentration on collaborations?

Borghini: Stick to your intuition. Pick a collaborator for the reason that you are personally intrigued and sense they can deliver a unique point of view to your brand name, even though sharing the exact values. From time to time collaborating with no a tactic, entirely centered on your intuition, is the greatest method. To me which is a real reliable partnership. The purchaser sees through almost everything these days, so it’s very critical to be genuine and real, and the relaxation will stick to.

Eldor: You have also aligned with prime-tier influencers. Can you share your ideas on the purpose influencers have performed in your brand’s good results?

Borghini: The influencers and good friends of the household mean so a great deal to me personally and are the critical component to the accomplishment of the model. I truly feel like they are all element of the household. We test as significantly as possible to carry on working with the expertise who has always supported us from working day a single.

Eldor: I really like that you examined marketing and communications early on – how do you utilize this talent set to your latest function as a founder? I’m guaranteed that knowing the artwork of storytelling is so critical to your good results as a manufacturer founder and entrepreneur!

Borghini: I strongly consider that communication is crucial. The market is extremely competitive, so you will need a sturdy, crystal clear and loud voice to survive and be regarded at an international stage.

Eldor: Do you have any tips for other ladies who are hunting to start a fashion brand name? It can be this kind of an intimidating move.

Borghini: It is really overwhelming but if you imagine in it and feel you have a solid concept to deliver, you need to absolutely go for it — but be geared up to function pretty tricky and also sacrifice some items.

Eldor: Constructing a world wide manner brand is not always an straightforward feat, but we mature more robust from these troubles alongside the way! Can you share a second that was difficult or a oversight that you effectively overcame and discovered from?

Borghini: Every working day there is a new challenge and I also typically make mistakes. But what operates for me is to just take a phase again, regroup with my team and strategize on how to greatest transfer forward. I like a ‘trial and error’ solution rather than possessing a intention and not going soon after it at all.