Italian Shoemaker Doucal’s Opens Milan Flagship
Italian footwear brand Doucal’s has opened a new flagship boutique in Milan’s luxury shopping district. The store's opening signals the brand's confidence in physical retail and traditional craftsmanship. The move aligns with a broader trend of luxury brands investing in immersive, in-person shopping experiences.
- The new flagship store is located at Via Gesù 15 in Milan, a prestigious address within the city's exclusive "Quadrilatero della Moda" (Fashion Quadrilateral). - Founded in 1973 in Montegranaro, the heart of Italy's Marche shoemaking district, the company was originally named "Duca," meaning "Duke" in Italian, to cater to an elite clientele. - Founder Mario Giannini was passionate about English shoemaking and traveled to Northampton, the center of the British shoe industry, to study traditional construction methods before establishing his own brand. - The brand's name was later anglicized from "Duca" to "Doucal's" to blend English aesthetics with the comfort and softness of Italian manufacturing, a core tenet of the brand. - Doucal's remains a family-run business, with founder Mario Giannini's sons, Gianni and Jerry, now leading the company as CEO and commercial director, respectively. - The company reported annual sales of 27 million euros in 2023 and has a long-term goal to double its sales by 2030. - Beyond Milan, Doucal's operates other international boutiques in cities including Paris, Doha, and Moscow. - The company is also investing in a new, multi-million euro headquarters in Montegranaro, which was expected to be ready in 2024 to mark its 50th anniversary.
