I love to see shoe creativity. Even if it makes no sense or I wouldn’t wear it. It shows that passion is being thrusted into the art form of shoemaking. For me, this concept is very important if we want the industry to thrive and continue. Monotonous dress shoes will soon be overrun by the hybrid fusion of sneakers into dress styles if shoemakers do not continue to strive for ingenuity. The Double Fiddleback Sole by Marcellino Shoemakers does just that. Mark my words, many other shoemakers will soon create their own version.
I just recently caught wind of this new double fiddleback sole on Instagram. I was immediately drawn to it, despite the reality that I would never order it in my own shoes. But I loved the idea behind it. The fact that Marcellino Shoemakers were creating new ideas, and more importantly, ideas that come from nature. Something, I believe, is truly lacking in 2025. We, as humans, used to be inspired by nature for creativity. Now we are often inspired by technology. But shoemaking, being a natural art form, comes alive when nature serves as inspiration.
I wrote to Marcellino Shoemakers and asked about the double fiddleback sole, not only asking for more photos, but of course, their reasons behind creating it. This is what they told me:
“This sample was born from a spontaneous flow. When we work on a new model, even though we handle different stages of the process, we often manage to move in a kind of symbiosis, without needing many words.
This derby, in particular, draws its inspiration from nature: from the earth, from the organic, from what is alive.
The skin stitching is the first sign of this. It sinks into the leather like roots, penetrating this earth-toned calfskin and binding the two pieces together. The side decorations are just a hint of inflorescences: a spring that has not yet arrived, an energy held back, ready but still unexploded.
Even though the sole seems to tell a different story, with its edges and carved angles, it is in fact the deepest layer of this organic world. They are stumps and bones beneath the ground: nourishment, structure, and strength.”
A lot of people see these unique soles and automatically assume they are not functional, but in fact, this is very functional and does not detract from the purpose of the sole: To support your feet. This is creativity coupled with practicality. And that is what makes this special. As it can drive new ideas across the entire industry, just as the original fiddleback sole did when Gaziano & Girling introduced it around 20 years ago.
Marcellino Shoemakers are doing some cool and exciting things, and the double fiddleback sole is just one of them! If you are ever in Rome, I suggest you look them up. You can read more about them here.
Access their IG page here: https://www.instagram.com/marcellino_shoemakers/?hl=en
