Inside the Louis Vuitton’s Venice Workshop Where Shoes are Made by Hand Since 1998

Louis Vuitton has spotlighted its footwear manufacture in Fiesso d’Artico, a village on the outskirts of Venice, as part of the ongoing visibility campaign around the LV Sneakerina. The workshop sits at the center of a shoemaking region with roots dating to the 13th century, and has been the production home of Louis Vuitton footwear since 1998.

What happens inside

Each pair begins with a “formier”, a specialist craftsman who carves the wooden last that determines the shoe’s shape and fit. Leather and canvas are cut using traditional tools, and both sewing and assembly are handled by hand throughout. The LV Sneakerina itself is built using the sacchetto construction technique, which produces a lightweight, flexible upper that wraps the foot without a rigid internal structure.

The process in steps

Every sneaker produced at Fiesso d’Artico passes through 29 separate steps before leaving the workshop. Hammering and fingertip pressure are used to refine shape and balance, followed by a shoe turning process that adjusts the internal structure. Lace setting and final surface inspection are both completed by hand.

The LV Sneakerina itself

The LV Sneakerina is priced from €850 and is constructed in lambskin with suede calf leather trim and an ultra flexible TPU outsole. LV initials appear on the lateral panel, with Monogram canvas detailing at the heel. The design sits between a sneaker and a ballerina flat, a hybrid silhouette that Louis Vuitton has positioned as a versatile everyday luxury piece.