Originally a workshop for dance shoes, Repetto is now part of the French luxury world thanks to its elegance and excellent quality. The brand is not only a pioneer in the world of dance, but also in the manufacture of street shoes. It has around 800 sales outlets worldwide.
origins
In 1947, in a tiny studio right next to the Paris National Opera, Rose Repetto designed her first ballet slippers using the zigzag stitching technique. Success came quickly and soon the customers flocked in droves. In 1956, Brigitte Bardot entered the atelier on Rue de la Paix and ordered a pair of made-to-measure shoes: the iconic Cendrillon shoes appeared in the film “Et Dieu créa la femme” and became the brand’s most recognizable model.
evolution
The biggest stars of the international dance scene now buy their shoes and outfits at Repetto. One encounters Nureyev, Baryshnikov and members of the Folies Bergères. In the 1970s, Serge Gainsbourg fell in love with the Zizi model, originally designed for Zizi Jeanmaire, Rose Repetto’s daughter-in-law and ballet dancer.
In 1999 the brand was revived by Jean-Marc Gaucher. A series of collaborations followed throughout the 2000s, including with Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons and Karl Lagerfeld. Atelier Repetto was founded in 2010, where you can design your own pair of ballerinas, personalized and handcrafted from 252 colors. Leather goods and prêt-à-porter soon followed. Inspired by the dancer’s wardrobe, the style of the Repetto collection is clean and fluid, embodying a graceful and delicate femininity. In 2015, Repetto became the official outfitter of the Rome Opera.
Current
The brand is committed to the community with its “Danse pour la vie” initiative, which supports the reintegration of children in need through creative compensation. As part of the “À vos pointes” initiative, 500 pairs of worn pointe shoes were collected, sorted and sent to the École national supérieure des arts décoratifs to give them a new artistic life.