Today the shocking news came that Tommaso Melani has passed away. He took over the Italian shoemaking company Stefano Bemer after its founder died in 2012, and has been doing an incredible job with developing the firm and established it as one of the most important Italian classic men’s shoe companies. A truly sad day for the shoe world.
In this post above the company Stefano Bemer today informed about the terrible news about its CEO Tommaso Melani. Condolences from all over the world is streaming in, telling the story of a gentle, kind and passionate man. I’ve met him many times through the years, not least in Bemer’s magnificent combined store and workshop in central Florence, and it was always a pleasure to talk shoes, shoemaking and shoe business with him. Even if you don’t know who he is, chance is great that you recognise him on the photos here, since he was out and about and doing a lot of things in the menswear sphere so he was often photographed, being a true ambassadeur of Italian craft in general and shoemaking in particular.
Tommaso Melani came from a family of leather craftsmen, who had operated Scuola del Cuio, a Florence based leather craft school and specialist leather goods manufacturer since more than 60 years. He was a good friend to the legendary shoemaker Stefano Bemer, and when Stefano passed away at only 48 years of age in 2012, after a longterm illness, Tommaso presented a plan to Stefano’s wife Cristina on how to continue the legacy of Stefano Bemer and develop the company further to honour his name.
This is exactly what he did. While preserving the high standards that the company was known for, Stefano Bemer has slowly but steadily grown in many ways through the years. The shoemaking school that has been one of the most important educators of new shoemakers the past decades, has continued to grow. It has it’s teaching room at the top floor of Bemer’s impressive location in Florence, an old church that’s been remade to a combined store, workshop and shoemaking school, all with Tommaso as a driving force (see more of that store in this report).
A converted church is the home of Stefano Bemer in Florence.
On the second floor there they nowadays also host the tailor Sartoria Vestrucci, which Tommaso took over a few years ago and incorporated to create a complete Italian menswear business. At the same time they have increased shoe RTW and MTO sales, while being true to their original bespoke business all the time and developing also this to continue to stay on absolute top level. They’ve established their own online store, a global retail network, their own New York location, and more. They’ve also been part of our London Super Trunk Show event several times, as an example of how wide Stefano Bemer work.
The company have had all their stores closed today, and have canceled all upcoming trunk shows and events until further notice.
Just the other day I saw Tommaso in a newly posted video on Instagram, and all of a sudden, he’s not with us anymore. It’s a sad loss for the shoe industry.
R.I.P. Tommaso Melani, you will be missed by many. Picture: Jamie Ferguson / The Rake (top picture: Agnes Select)
Saw this on social media today, how very sad … RIP Tommaso
Thank you for the write up; such shocking and sad news. He has done such wonderful work with Stefano Bemer (of which I am a fan, owning a few pairs). He will definitely be missed. May he rest in peace.
This is really sad! First Stefano and now him. He was a man of great talent and extremely good taste. He will surely be missed. May he rest eternally.
Andre, Nezar, Bernard: Fine words. Really sad indeed, always feels crazy when it’s so sudden.
Non ci credo ancora. E sarà difficile rassegnarsi.
La vita non e mai giusta. Mancherà moltissimo.
I just learned of Tomasso’s passing. This is just so sad.
Thank you for the wonderful tribute.
I hope his legacy continues. He definitely made a difference in my world.
I met Tomasso during the educacional course that tool place in 2014. He was for me such a good person and deeply passionate about shoemaking and lifestyle. I am really sorry for the lost.