Roberto Angiolucci & Claudia Ciuti
Design & Made In Italy Consultants
Claudia and Roberto are co-founders of The Private Design, a New York based consulting firm specializing in footwear Made in Italy. They share the same origin, both coming from high profile shoe making families of the Tuscan region of Italy.
Soon after they married, they traveled extensively to Europe, Asia, and the Americas, marketing the shoe line named after Claudia. They later decided to move to New York to develop their vision of expanding the production to the U.S.
Together, after a few years, they developed the surprising styling of their shoe line into a designer brand collection, produced under the highest Italian standards of quality and the most consistent fitting. Shortly after, the brand propelled the business creating a vast distribution to department stores and independent retailers.
In 2004, they open the first Claudia Ciuti boutique on Madison Avenue in New York and they soon pioneered the online sales world. In 2009 Claudia was voted Best Italian Shoe Designer-Popular Choice Award, and the shoes appeared on the pages of Harper Bazaar, Vogue and Elle magazines. Claudiaʼs looks have been spotted on the t.v. series Ugly Betty and E! News. The line gained its share of celebrity fans such as Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Debi Mazar, Mena Suvari, Vivica A.Fox, Patty La Belle, Jodie Foster, and Vanessa Williams; to name a few.
The duo also managed multiple collaborations with many ready to wear and couture American designers such as: Jill Stuart, Betsey Johnson, Carmen Marc Valvo, Bagdley Mischka Couture and St. John.
In 2014 the couple, strong of the extensive knowledge in the footwear industry, embraced the footwear consulting business, engaging in multiple projects of design and production for relevant clothing brands including Rebecca Taylor, Tibi and Theory.
Throughout these years, thanks to their Italian heritage and American experience, they have proven consistent knowledge in the different fields of the business, starting from the technical knowledge and the sophisticated stylish design to the ability to collaborate on creative projects in production and retailing in the U.S. market at different levels.