Edgardo Osorio

Edgardo Osorio (29 November 1985) is a Colombian fashion designer.
Founder and Creative Director of the Italian luxury footwear brand Aquazzura founded in 2012.. 
The brand is known for its craftsmanship with a particular focus on comfort and wearability. 
The trademark detailing of Aquazzura is the golden pineapple, a lucky charm also considered a symbol of hospitality.
Since his childhood years, he expressed a passion for drawing and sketching and designing shoes soon became his real passion and a natural extension of his love for fashion, something instinctive that came very naturally. 
Since 2012, Aquazzura has offered high-end collections beyond footwear. Today, the luxurious brand doubles as a lifestyle brand designing fashion jewelry, tableware, and handbag collections
==Early life==
Osorio was born in Cartagena, Colombia, and later raised between Miami and London. During Osorio’s childhood, he was surrounded by women who ignited his interest in fashion, his mother in particular. His infatuation with heels started at an early stage. Shortly after, Osorio became acquainted with both drawing and sketching. Following a summer course at Central Saint Martins in London, Osorio started doing internships at fashion houses at the age of 15. Then he attended the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. 
In an interview with Town & Country magazine
, Osorio explained that the summer prior to launching Aquazzura,While each wedding was fun, he noticed how women continuously kept complaining how uncomfortable their shoes were. For Osorio, that was when he decided to start his own footwear brand and create beautiful, yet comfortable footwear, referencing shoes as a window to a woman’s soul.
==Career==
Osorio started working as a consultant for renowned luxury brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo, René Caovilla, and Roberto Cavalli. 
2012 marked the birth of Aquazzura, Osorio’s own women’s footwear brand which he decided to establish in vibrant Tuscany and Florence, of utmost importance for him, as the city is known for its rich culture, remarkable art, and notable shoemaking legacy. The Aquazzura headquarters are located in the XVII century historical venue of Palazzo Corsini, in the heart of Florence
. 
The name Aquazzura is directly inspired by Osorio’s love for the sea, the picturesque Italian island of Capri in particular. Acqua and azzurra means blue water in Italian, a nod to the brand's Mediterranean roots. 
Osorio’s work for Aquazzura has a notable presence on the international stage. Both signature seasonal collections, exclusive collaborations, and bespoke pieces, have been worn by leading international actors and musicians, such as Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Amal Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Dua Lipa, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, Selena Gomez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Margot Robbie, Rita Ora, Naomi Watts, Sienna Miller, Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Florence Pugh, Carla Bruni, Shakira, among many others.
In November 2017, Meghan Markle chose to wear the iconic Matilde pumps during the first official event at the National Theatre announce her engagement to Prince Harry. 
The following year, Creative Director Edgardo Osorio, designed bespoke Aquazzura shoes for the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who wore them to the evening reception of her wedding to the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry. Bespoke Aquazzura creations were also designed for HRH Princess Charlotte and five other bridesmaids who wore them to the ceremony. The Duchess of Sussex wore Aquazzura shoes on many official occasions, including the Royal Australia tour, and to this day, Aquazzura continues to be part of her shoe collection. 
Aquazzura’s shoes have also been worn by other royalties including HRH the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, Queen Rania of Jordan, Queen Letizia of Spain, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, and fashion icons like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Cindy Crawford.
==Aesthetic==
Osorio’s trademark detailing for Aquazzura is the golden pineapple, a lucky charm also considered a symbol of hospitality. Another stylistic code which Aquazzura often implements are the black and white stripes, both in designs and stores. Osorio notes Tuscan churches as an inspiration, directly correlated with the brand’s Florentine roots.
==Aquazzura collections==
===Shoes===
Aquazzura’s distinctive shoe designs are handmade in Italy, using traditional techniques and luxury materials. Each style is crafted in close collaboration with designer and artisan. For Osorio, comfort, and wearability are sxtremely important. Over the years Aquazzura has launched styles that became iconic such as the Christy flats, the Sexy Thing, Wild Thing. 
Among all these models the signature styles are the Bow Tie pump, The Gatsby slingback, the Tequila sandal, and the So Nude sandal.
===Fashion Jewelry===
In 2021, Osorio explored new territory, presenting fashion jewelry. The jewelry collection draws inspiration from organically shapes, often with a nod towards the Mediterranean. The wide selection covers both earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets, together with smaller pieces like embellished cuffs. The ocean is a frequent source of inspiration, which also doubles as one of Osorio’s favorite spots of preference.
===Aquazzura Casa===
Osorio’s always been passionate about interior design, he explained in a Forbes interview that if he hadn't worked in fashion, he would have been an interior designer. 
In 2022, Aquazzura Casa Collection debuted during Milan Design Week. The collection comprises four tableware lines: Secret Garden, Jaipur, Cherry Blossom and Tutti Frutti. 
A selection of hand-blown Murano glass accessories offers the perfect finishing touch, catching and refracting the light in solid-colour or striped chromatic combinations.
The collection was directly inspired by the art of table scaping, interpreting the stylistic codes of Aquazzura into the realm of luxury homeware. 
===Handbags===
In 2023, Aquazzura marked its new decade with the debut of its first bag collection as a complement to the existing footwear line. The collection features an array of sophisticated and feminine day-to-night styles for everyday use. The Tequila clutch, named after Osorio’s favourite drink, just like the namesake sandal, has become a must-have item.
==Special projects & collaborations==
In addition to his iconic seasonal collections, Edgardo Osorio has also launched exclusive Aquazzura capsule collections
 with renowned influencers including Olivia Palermo, Poppy Delevingne, Claudia Schiffer among others, and international brands like Swarovski, Dr. Barbara Sturm or De Gournay.
==Iconic shoe styles==
Since its debut, Aquazzura has introduced many models that have become must-haves, loved by stars and celebrities. In particular, among the most iconic, we can certainly mention the Bow Tie pumps, the Tequila sandals, the Gatsby slingbacks and the So Nude sandals. All styles are handmade, designed and crafted in Italy.
==Media==
TV and Cinema - Osorio’s creations for Aquazzura have also been featured in multiple film productions. 
* And Just Like That… (2021 – 2023) Sequel of the iconic Sex & The City series, starring Sara Jessica Parker.
* 
* House of Gucci (2021) Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Lady Gaga.
* 
* No Time to Die (2021) The twenty-fifth in the James Bond series, Starring Ana de Armas.
==Awards==
* 2013 FN Achievement Awards “Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent”
* 2014 ELLE Spain Style Award “Best Accessories Designer of the Year”
* 2015 Footwear News “Best Designer Award”
* 2016 Marie Claire Prix De La Mode “Designer of the Year”
* 2017 FFANY, Fashion Footwear Association of New York “Designer of the Year”
* 2017 Harper’s Bazaar Interiors “Best Fashion-to-Furniture Brand”
==Aquazzura Stores==
The brand has opened boutiques across the world, seamlessly blending iconic style codes with the architecture and historic atmosphere of each location.
Every Aquazzura boutique is at once unique yet instantly recognisable thanks to the considered combination of the house’s aesthetic with the stylistic influences of each city. The design is perfectly executed down to the smallest detail to offer a captivating shopping experience, synonymous with Aquazzura’s sophisticated and iconic footwear collections.
* 2015 - Florence Boutique
* 2015 - London Albemarle Street Boutique 
* 2016 - Miami Bal Harbour Boutique
* 2016 - New York Madison Boutique 
* 2018 - Milan Boutique
* 2018 - Doha Boutique
* 2018 - Dubai Boutique 
* 2018 - Sao Paulo Boutique 
* 2020 - Capri Boutique
* 2022 - Paris Boutique
* 2022 - Madrid Boutique
* 2022 - Rome Boutique
* 2023 - London New Bond Street Boutique
* 2023 - Taiwan Boutique
Category:1985 births
Category:Colombian fashion designers
Category:People from Cartagena
Category:Colombian people