Success stories

Anna Widni completed an apprenticeship as a bespoke shoemaker fuelled by her passion for the craftsmanship and the art of creating custom-fit shoes. Inspired to turn this passion into her own business venture she applied for the "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs" Program. During her participation in the programme, she had the privilege of being mentored by Gabriele Gmeiner, whose dedication to shoemaking resonates deeply with my own. After training in London and Paris, she perfected her skills here in Venice in one of the last workshops of its kind. Twenty years ago, Gabriele opened her workshop here at Campielo del Sol crafting bespoke shoes for clients from all over the world who appreciate durable and precisely made footwear. Today her clientele spans the globe a proof for her expertise and commitment to excellence.

Anna and Gabriele worked exceptionally well together primarily producing women's shoes. With one person crafting the soles and the other creating the uppers Anna had the opportunity to expand her skills. "Here I've learned an additional new technique from Gabriele that I wasn't familiar with before" said Anna. "What I really like is that I can work independently and pursue my own projects" Anna noted. Recently she crafted a prototype shoe that fits perfectly representing a 100% success. "The next step is to create the original shoe" she added.

With Gabriele as her mentor, Anna had the opportunity to deepen her expertise and observe daily work in Venice. When materials were needed Anna visited, other workshops, gaining valuable insights into how businesses operate behind the scenes. This experience allowed her to understand the various entrepreneurial tasks involved. Additionally, Gabriele benefited from Anna's knowledge and fresh perspectives.