Cláudia Madaleno, a visionary Portuguese designer, founded the luxury brand Sarah Maier in Lisbon in 2020. With a passion for creating sophisticated and elegant shoes, Cláudia sought to blend her Portuguese design sensibilities with Italy’s renowned artisanal shoemaking traditions. This case study explores how Italian Artisan played a crucial role in helping Sarah Maier achieve exceptional production quality and efficiency.
Success Metrics
15%
Achieved a 15% cost reduction compared to initial estimates from local producers.
100%
Ensured complete traceability throughout the entire supply chain.
20%
Reduced production time by 20% through optimized processes.
The Challenge
Cláudia’s journey began with a profound passion for designing elegant footwear, but she faced significant challenges in finding producers who could meet her high standards. The primary difficulties included long production times, multiple iterations to approve prototypes, and ensuring impeccable quality control.
Actions Taken
To overcome these challenges, Cláudia partnered with Italian Artisan, leveraging their extensive network of skilled artisans and advanced production techniques.
“Italy has always been my first option to produce my brand’s shoes because I like the way the footwear is manufactured in this country. I like the finishes and materials, and its extensive experience in shoes made it my first choice for production”
— CEO
Production Process
Design Conceptualization and Material Selection
- Cláudia begins each collection by drawing inspiration from her travels and experiences. These concepts are then translated into initial sketches.
- Collaborating with Italian Artisan, high-quality, sustainable materials are sourced. This includes selecting premium leathers, eco-friendly dyes, and other sustainable raw materials.
Prototype Development
- Detailed specifications are sent to the artisans. Utilizing advanced CAD software, initial patterns are created.
- The manufacturers create the first prototypes. Italian Artisan’s advanced prototyping techniques ensured that the first sample met Cláudia’s expectations, achieving approval on the second attempt, a significant improvement from the usual three attempts.
Crafting the Footwear
- Cutting and Stitching: Using state-of-the-art machinery, precise cuts are made to the leather. Each piece is then hand-stitched, ensuring durability and a perfect finish.
- Lasting and Assembly: The shoes are assembled on lasts that give them their final shape. Hand-finishing techniques ensure that every detail, from stitching to trimming, is perfect.
- Finishing Touches: The final steps include polishing the leather, adding any metallic accessories, and ensuring the perfect fit and finish.
Quality Control
- Each shoe undergoes a multi-stage inspection process. This includes testing the tensile strength of the leather, ensuring consistent dyeing, and thorough inspections of the final products.
- Our quality control confirmed that no shoes required rework or replacement, validating the impeccable production process.
Logistics and Distribution
- Managed the logistics of shipping the finished shoes from Italy to various markets worldwide. This involved climate-controlled shipping to preserve the integrity of the leather.
- Ensured secure payment systems and robust NDAs to protect Cláudia’s intellectual property, providing her with peace of mind.
“Partnering with Italian Artisan transformed our production process. We achieved a 15% cost reduction, complete traceability of our supply chain, and reduced production time by 20%. Their expertise and commitment to quality have been invaluable in realizing our vision.”
— CEO
Results
15% Cost Reduction
- By optimizing the production process and leveraging economies of scale, we significantly reduced production costs, compared her to initial estimates from local producers.
- The use of advanced machinery and efficient production techniques minimized waste and improved material usage.
- Streamlined logistics and supply chain management reduced overhead costs.
100% Traced Supply Chain
- Implemented a fully traceable supply chain system that tracked every step from material sourcing to final product delivery.
- This traceability ensured that every aspect of the production process adhered to high ethical and environmental standards.
20% Faster Production Time
- By optimizing production schedules and employing advanced project management tools, we reduced production time by 20% versus previous manufacturers. We completed the entire production in 170 days.
- The integration of seamless communication between design and production teams minimized delays and ensured a smooth workflow.
- Utilized just-in-time inventory practices to ensure materials were available exactly when needed, reducing downtime and speeding up production.
Company
Sarah Maier
Headquarters
Lisbon, Portugal
About the brand
Founded by Cláudia in 2020, Sarah Maier specializes in creating luxurious, high-quality shoes that uniquely blend Portuguese design with the exquisite craftsmanship of Italian artisans. The brand focuses on sustainability, elegance, and the use of premium materials, ensuring each pair of shoes offers unparalleled comfort and style. Sarah Maier’s collections also include a range of sophisticated bags and accessories, all crafted with the same dedication to quality and detail.
