FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES AUGUST 2014 85
By Jan Westmark
F
ranco Tucci is the real deal. An Italian bootmaker. A
master- craftsman. A designer. His love of fabulous
footwear is rooted in his genetic makeup — passed down
to him from his father who became a shoemaker’s apprentice in a
small Italian village when he was just a child.
Franco was born in Rome and grew up immersed in the world
of shoes and boot making. He not only embraced his family’s
passion for footwear but has taken it a step further — launching
his own boot company, Tucci, producing exquisite custom boots
that are sold on every continent.
“My passion certainly comes from my father, Gianni Tucci,”
Franco said. “My father started working for a shoemaker when he
was only 9 years old. Given the lack and cost of raw materials, he
had the task of straightening the nails. After
four years the shoemaker died and my father
took over the shop and became the town’s
shoemaker.”
When Franco’s father was 17 he moved
to Rome to gain experience. His passion
flourished and was recognized, just as
Franco’s talent is recognized today. Like
father, like son.
“When my dad was 27, he opened his first
shoe company and over the years produced
various types of footwear, both high fashion
and ready-to-wear,” Franco said. “In the
second half of the ’80s he entered the riding
and equestrian field and named the company
Parlanti.”
After completing his studies in 1986,
Franco joined the family’s business with
the desire of honing his craft. He quickly
discovered he had a talent as a designer and
loved expressing his creativity. “I have worked
in all production stages, but the thing I like
best is the finishings — that is the tannery and the polishing of
the leathers, because it’s at that moment that the leather comes
alive,” he said.
While falling in love with boot making, Franco also discovered
he had a deep fondness and passion for horses and riding. “I
practiced English riding as a amateur, not competitively, just for
the pleasure of enjoying this wonderful feeling,” he said.
Franco launched Tucci in 2006 while at the same time moving
to Northern Italy with his wife, Angela; son, Samuel; and daughter,
Silvia. “At this point, I started from scratch, or better yet from one,
because I was by myself with my knowledge, skill and ability,”
Franco said. “I will have to say it was quite a challenge!”
It was a challenge that Franco was able to master. “My
idea and my goal is that that every person who is wearing my
boots must feel them as a part of the body,” he said, adding
that Tucci boots focus on attention to detail
and each boot owner can customize their
boots 100 percent, with color combinations,
design details, laser engraving and more —
making each pair of boots unique and totally
personal.
Franco believes boots should be beautiful
and in 2007 he became the first boot designer
to use crystals in riding boots, creating a new
collection of boots designed exclusively for
women with a wide range of designs and
inserts. Tucci partnered with Swarovski, and
while Franco thought the idea was good, he
says he was surprised that it turned out to
be far more than that — it became a real
success, winning awards and helping Tucci
to evolve into the company it is today.
“My constant desire is to create, design
and develop new projects,” Franco said. “It’s
what makes me happy and proud of the work
that I do and always pushes me towards the
future.”
The Tucci showroom
Photo courtesy of Tucci
Franco’s father, Gianni Tucci
Photo courtesy of Franco Tucci
