Acanto & Salento: a matter of roots
For us at Acanto, Salento is not simply a setting to describe; it is a living part of who we are. It is where everything begins and the lens through which we see the world—a land that transforms our idea of craftsmanship into a language made of materials, colour and identity.
A Land That Creates Excellence
When we talk about our connection to the local area, we mean much more than provenance. Today, Salento is Europe’s leading hub for the production of luxury sneakers and a benchmark region for high-end apparel manufacturing.
Our footwear factory is part of this manufacturing district. It generates its own electricity through a privately owned photovoltaic system, which has saved 6.5 tonnes of CO2 since its installation.
Even the gardens surrounding our headquarters reflect the character of the region. They are filled with native flowers and plants that absorb CO2 and create a natural setting where our employees can enjoy their breaks.
People Before Products
Being deeply rooted in a place also means investing in the people who choose to stay and build their future here.
Acanto’s founders are founding members of the Politecnico del Made in Italy, a school dedicated to training the technical and managerial professionals who will shape the future of the fashion industry.
Inside our footwear factory, an in-house academy also trains and continuously develops the skills of the artisans who create every pair of Acanto sneakers.
The quality you can see and feel in our shoes comes from this chain of knowledge, passed from hand to hand just like the shoes themselves. We explore the way we work in greater detail on the page dedicated to our craftsmanship.
An Identity That Moves With You
Every Acanto design carries a fragment of this land within it: in the warm tones that recall Lecce stone, in the natural textures inspired by the landscape, and in the craftsmanship that preserves a tradition that is both ancient and contemporary.
Choosing a handmade sneaker crafted in Salento means carrying this philosophy with you—a connection to a place that does more than inspire us, because it lives within every detail.
Every step tells a story from Salento, and that story continues to move with us.
FAQ
Where is the Acanto Studio footwear factory located?
It is located in Salento, in southern Puglia, within the manufacturing district that has become Europe’s leading hub for luxury sneaker production. Here, every pair is cut, stitched and assembled by hand.
Why is Salento important for sneaker production?
The region brings together manufacturers, specialised expertise and training institutions dedicated to footwear production, making it Europe’s leading hub for luxury sneakers. Acanto contributes to this ecosystem through its own footwear factory and its support for the Politecnico del Made in Italy.