Maximilian Davis continues to redefine Ferragamo’s identity, weaving together the brand’s storied past and a contemporary vision for Pre-Spring and Spring-Summer 2025. Drawing inspiration from archival treasures, Davis has crafted a duo of collections that balance sensuality, cultural connection, and meticulous dressmaking.
For Pre-Spring 2025, Davis revisits Ferragamo’s late-1970s campaigns, celebrated for their lifestyle-focused elegance. “I wanted to bring that sense of reality throughout the collection but with seventies ease and glamour,” he explains. This vision unfolds through a wardrobe that exudes confidence and sensuality: viscose batwing minidresses, liquid sequins, and draped silks are juxtaposed with flocked denim and thigh-skimming tailoring — a visual feast for the eyes. The Ferragamo palette returns in all its glory with a selection of bold injections of colour: from fuchsia and Bordeaux to flashy blues and deep browns; and of course, the Ferragamo red, visible through a glimpse of the Hug’s interior.
Footwear plays with allure, from high-shine kitten heels and snakeskin prints to boudoir-inspired feather trims, while accessories like the iconic Hug bag are softened and reimagined for modern ease. The collection’s duality — sleazy and sexy yet pure and elegant — comes alive in patch-worked scarf dresses and distorted floral prints, offering a dreamlike nod to nostalgia.
Spring-Summer 2025 builds on Ferragamo’s historical ties to ballet, inspired by a photograph of Salvatore Ferragamo fitting a shoe for dancer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham. “Every shoe has a story,” says Davis, whose designs explore the interplay between movement, elegance, and heritage. Second-skin cashmere cotton pieces are layered and twisted like practice uniforms, while opera coats and parachute dresses in silk nylon and organza celebrate freedom of movement. Sequinned embroidery nods to mid-century glamour, while raw finishes, frayed denim, and rubber jelly moccasins inject Caribbean vitality.
Throughout both collections, Ferragamo’s artisanal mastery remains omnipresent. Intricately interlaced Gancini forms and sustainable denim jacquard add texture, while pointy Eva pumps and fringed jacquard mules capture the collection’s dynamic spirit. Accessories, from the softened Hug bag to a new handbag inspired by scarf draping, embody a balance of luxury and practicality.
By blending archival reverence with a resolutely modern gaze, Davis has brought to life wardrobes that celebrate the timeless elegance and innovative energy at the heart of Ferragamo. “I am interested in playing with classicism, and a classic way of dressing — that feels very Italian to me,” he says.
Explore the collections here.
photography. Ferragamo, Alessandro Lucioni
words. Gennaro Costanzo
