Olivia von Halle explores Tuscan Luxury with the Contessa Slipper

Tuscany is a feast for the senses. The region’s exceptional villas, undulating hills, and ornate decors are set against the symmetry of a countryside of lush olive groves and elegant cypress trees.

The story of Tuscan excellence began in the Etruscan era, and it’s alive and well in 2021. Olivia von Halle became immersed in the Tuscan fondness of elegance, artistry, and graceful proportions for the creation of our first slipper, the Contessa.

There seems to be a natural fondness for simplicity and symmetry in the Tuscan region. This ties into Olivia von Halle’s support of sustainable partners and makers; in this instance, a second-generation family who run their own factory, and who draw on the very best of Made in Italy values. For the creation of the Contessa slipper, they fused time-tried craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Since 1282, Tuscany has been known for fine living as much as for good design. Tuscany, Marche, and Santa Croce Sull’Arno, are still the main regions for leather production, with centuries of expertise. Olivia von Halle has long dreamed of crafting an ultra-sumptuous pair of slippers, comprised of the eye-catching motifs and singular materials we celebrate. From the outset, the Contessa was conceived with the development of hand-stitching and artisanal craftspeople at its core. Olivia von Halle describes the slippers as an ‘impeccable labour of love’, crafted by the brand’s wider circle of makers; the beautifully hand-stitched detailing gives the slippers their soul–alongside the integrity of their luxury materials.

This composition brings the Contessa alive. Every design by Olivia von Halle centres comfort and luxury–but by incorporating high-tech Ortholite (which is sustainably made from repurposed rubber), an Olivia von Halle slipper borrows the tech from the most versatile sneakers and applies it to slippers for incredible, luxe comfort. As with all their designs, Olivia von Halle slippers are crafted with sustainability in mind–using GOTS-certified cotton is used for particular slippers, alongside vegetable tanned leather, to meet the brand’s sustainability goals.

The Contessa Slipper expresses everything OvH; the hand-sewing of its embellishments creates the unique character to each design, and the soul of its style is accomplished by these vivid, hand-made details. It’s a story of excellence, one that began in the Tuscan region centuries ago, and continues to inspire artisans and designers until this day.