NiRa Rubens
NiRa Rubens is an Italian footwear brand founded in 2016 that makes hand painted leather sneakers, with every pair painted individually. It is based near the Riviera del Brenta shoemaking district outside Venice and also makes handbags using the same technique.
| Founded | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Ramon Gobbo, Nicoletta Giacon |
| Base | Noventa Padovana, Italy |
| Production | Italy and Portugal |
| Speciality | Hand painted sneakers |
| Website | nirarubens.com |
What is NiRa Rubens?
NiRa Rubens is a sneaker brand created in 2016 by Ramon Gobbo and Nicoletta Giacon. The name combines the founders' names and also pays tribute to the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, reflecting the brand's painterly approach.
Products and positioning
The signature product is the hand painted leather sneaker, with decoration that extends onto the soles. Seven women paint every pair by hand, so no two are identical. The same painting technique is applied to a line of handbags.
- All leather is sourced from Italy
- Production is split evenly between Italy and Portugal
- Annual output of 40,000 to 50,000 pairs
Distribution
The brand is distributed by Panta Rei in Noventa Padovana, in the Riviera del Brenta area near Venice where the founders studied. NiRa Rubens is stocked by around 200 retail doors and has its own online shop. Key export markets have included Belgium, Germany and the United States.
Why it matters
NiRa Rubens shows how a small Italian company can differentiate in the crowded sneaker market through craft rather than technology: artisanal hand painting turns a standard silhouette into a one off product with a clear story for retailers.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded NiRa Rubens?
NiRa Rubens was founded in 2016 by Ramon Gobbo and Nicoletta Giacon, whose names form the brand name.
Are NiRa Rubens sneakers hand painted?
Yes. Each pair is painted by hand, including the soles, so every pair is unique.