In presence of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Salvatore Ferragamo, one of the most recognised luxury brands in the world, inaugurated its first flagship store in Abu Dhabi on October 10. The event was attended by Mr Massimo Barzaghi, Deputy General Manager of Salvatore Ferragamo, Mr Tony Jashanmal, Group Executive Director of Jashanmal Group, Mr Mohan Jashanmal, Regional Director of Jashanmal Group, H.E. Dr Giorgio Starace, and Italian Ambassador to the U.A.E, other VIP guests and press. Located in the prestigious Avenue at Etihad Towers, the most exclusive shopping centre in the heart of the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, the shop is dedicated to the men’s and women’s collections of the Maison and has a surface area of 180 square meters. The store is designed as an open space divided into areas for various product categories: the most exclusive looks of the SS12 women’s fashion show, men’s and women’s footwear, bags, eyewear, fragrances, watches, leather accessories. The interior of the store elicits characteristics of luxury and elegance, hallmarks of the Ferragamo style, offering a sober and refined atmosphere that reflects the concept of Salvatore Ferragamo stores worldwide. Colours and structure of the spaces are carefully measured to envelope visitors in an intimate, elegant lounge ambience and the new store offers a contemporary, out of the ordinary shopping experience. The sophisticated, restrained atmosphere is designed to enhance the products with plays of light, artfully combined surfaces and geometric shapes. On the occasion of the store opening, Salvatore Ferragamo hosted an exhibition of shoes from the Ferragamo Museum in Florence which were created for Hollywood actresses like Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Angelina Jolie and others. Like the company that bears his name, Salvatore Ferragamo’s life story, career and success are the perfect example of the close bonds forged by fashion and film since the Twenties.? At barely twenty years of age, Salvatore Ferragamo moved to California and brought with him his relentless passion for shoes and his natural gift for fine craftsmanship. His first contract was with the American Film Company, which ordered boots for Westerns, for actors and actresses like Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Pola Negri and Mary Pickford. Before long, the stars were ordering Ferragamo shoes custom-made for themselves, and Salvatore soon became known as the ‘Shoemaker to the Stars’ Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. is the parent company of the Salvatore Ferragamo Group, one of the world's leaders in the luxury goods sector and whose origins date back to 1927. The Group is active in the creation, production and sale of shoes, leather goods, clothing, silk products and other accessories, as well as women's and men's perfumes. The Group's product range also includes eyewear and watches, manufactured by licensees. Attention to uniqueness and exclusivity, with a perfect blend of style, creativity and innovation enriched by the quality and craftsmanship of the 'Made in Italy' tradition, have always been the hallmarks of the Group's products. With over 3,000 employees and a network of 594 single-brand stores as of 30 June 2012, the Ferragamo Group operates in Italy and worldwide through companies that allow it to be a leader on European, American and Asian markets.