Maria Sole Ferragamo moves through the streets of Florence with a familiar grace. Gliding through piazzas, past grand Renaissance churches and bustling markets, turning down narrow, cobbled streets without so much as a glance at their names—she is clearly at home in the enchanting Tuscan capital.
“I grew up 20 minutes outside the city, where you are surrounded by nature, you can breathe fresh air, and from a hilltop, you can see the city,” she says. In her youth, it was here—in the same city her grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, founded his eponymous fashion label nearly a century ago—discovered her own creative style.
Sole Ferragamo wearing a leather collar and ear cuff from her So-le Studio collection.
Today, Sole Ferragamo is an artigiana in her own right at her So-le Studio. The accessories brand has become a cult favorite for its dynamic leather jewelry that is both supple and sculptural. Crafted by artisans in Tuscany, her innovative yet simple pieces are light, durable, and made in limited editions.
The early concept for So-le Studio formed when, as a young intern in Ferragamo’s workshop, Sole Ferragamo became fascinated with the custom leather accessories many of the atelier’s artisans wore. She made her own first piece, an elegant necklace, from the factory’s discarded scraps. It was the start of an obsession that would lead her to study fashion at Central St. Martins and, in 2019, create So-le Studio.
Her exquisite pieces—which are made by hand using skills that have been passed down for generations—are reflections of Sole Ferragamo’s deep love for her Florentine roots. Though now based in Milan, she returns to the city often, and when she does, she says, she finds herself emotional and nostalgic.
Sole Ferragamo’s favorite places to stroll in Florence include Piazza Santo Spirito.
Sole Ferragamo frequents Bar Mariano for “the best paninis” and friendly greetings.
Indeed, the city’s streets filled with medieval charm and grand architecture are like a tapestry of memories, brimming with Sole Ferragamo’s own secret spots and long-time haunts. There’s Giardino di Boboli, the Medici-era gardens filled with grottos, fountains, and Renaissance statues; Piazza Santo Spirito, with its Brunelleschi-designed church; and the storied Collegio alla Querce, where her father was once a promising young student. Now, the former cultural institution is being transformed into the new luxury hotel, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, opening its doors this spring.
Details from Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection in Florence, Italy opening March 2025.
When Sole Ferragamo is seeking inspiration, she visits the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi or Simone Taddei, the latter a master leatherworker who crafts one-of-a-kind boxes and accessories. “There is so much heritage in what he makes,” she says. She also returns often to the same small, family-owned cafes and restaurants: 5eCinque, for vegetarian fare that is “simple, homemade, and super high quality,” and Bar Mariano, which has “the best paninis—and they always remember your name.”
Those warm, familiar interactions are what speak to Sole Ferragamo’s love of Florence most—and keep her heart full until her next return to her inimitable hometown.
Another of Sole Ferragamo’s best-loved spots is 5eCinque for homemade vegetarian fare.
To read about Florence’s most revered heritage workshops, check out Florence’s Hidden Ateliers.