The designers of Marsèll, three Italian creatives affectionately referred to as the Cima siblings, are masters of contrast. Clean lines are interrupted by bold cut-outs, sweeping silhouettes are cut into square toes, luxurious suede is brushed into near distress. The juxtaposed effect is subtle but impactful, with the ensuing contrast a foundation for the “unexpected” x-factor signature to the brand.
Their latest arrivals continue the trend, with delicate sandals rendered in snappy silver laminate, rounded derbies with a cinched heel and Mary-Jane-esque flats transformed into a new favorite slide. Marsèll’s distinctive aesthetic is born from their creative process—a method that combines the Cima siblings’ innate artistry with the honed perfection native to Italian shoecraft.
Marsèll’s designs are often conceptualized free-form, as bold, graphic shapes rather than sheerly practical wearables. Once the silhouette is defined, the shoe is continually developed and tinkered with until it becomes something unbelievably wearable—while still maintaining the cool inventiveness endemic to the original idea. Each style is crafted in small, limited edition batches to best preserve the wild creativity of this process.
“Put dark against dark – you have nothing. It’s the contrast of light and dark that each gives the other one meaning.”
— Bob Ross
