Ferragamo President Visits Korea

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Ferragamo President Visits Korea

"The Korean fashion market is lively,sensual, and competitive. I wanted to see Korea's fast growing market for myself."

Ferruccio Ferragamo, 50, president of Italian fashion group Ferragamo, which possesses market shares in over 50 countries, visited Korea for the first time on April 26. Ferragamo is a very popular brandname among Korean women and Ferragamo sales in Korea are second only to Japan in the Asian market. In fact, a Ferragamo fan club has been established on one domestic Internet site for women.

Ferragamo is often cited as an example of successful family managment. Ferruccio Ferragamo is the eldest of Salvatore Ferragamo's six children, and has taken over management of the company from his father who founded the shoe company which led to Ferragamo as it is now known. When Ferruccio Ferragamo was 18 years old, he took all the shoes out of the family warehouse and asked his mother to give him 10 percent of the profit if he sold them all, and started his own business selling shoes in London. These modest beginnings have led to Ferragamo becoming an international company that produces women's clothes, accessories, and handbags.

Ferragamo first participated in the annual fundraising party held by the Audrey Hepburn Children's Foundation last year, and is currently supporting the party which stops all over the world. At the Japanese leg of this fundraising tour, 10 pairs of Hepburn's shoes, various clothing items, and pictures of Hepburn were exhibited. Over 7,500 people attended the Hepburn exhibition on opening day.

Ferruccio Ferragamo expressed his regrets that the Korean leg of the fundraising tour had to be cancelled. Speaking of the late movie star, he said, "Audrey Hepburn is the actor that best fits our company image. We want her elegant, delicate appearance and patrician aura to always be associated with our products."




by Park Hee-min

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