NE Anna Widni and HE Gabriele Gmeiner-Zito
New Entrepreneur (NE):
Name & surname: Anna Widni
Country: Austria
Age: 25
Sector of activity: Shoemaking
Did you already start your business? No
Host Entrepreneur (HE):
Name & surname: Gabriele Gmeiner-Zito
Country: Italy
Sector of activity: Shoemaking
Experience in running a business (in years): 16
Name of business/website: www.gabrielegmeiner.com
What is your business? Small workshop for bespoke shoe making in the center of Venice
Period of exchange: 06/10/2023 – 04/04/2024
Duration of exchange: 6 months
Common passion for craftsmanship in Italy
I completed an apprenticeship as a bespoke shoemaker, fuelled by my passion for the craftsmanship and the art of creating custom-fit shoes. Inspired to turn this passion into my own business venture, I applied for the “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” Program.
During my participation in the program, I had the privilege of being mentored by Gabriele Gmeiner, whose dedication to shoemaking resonates deeply with my own. After training in London and Paris, she perfected her skills here in Venice in one of the last workshops of its kind. Twenty years ago, she opened her workshop here at Campielo del Sol, crafting bespoke shoes for clients from all over the world who appreciate durable and precisely made footwear. Today, her clientele spans the globe, a proof for her expertise and commitment to excellence.
We work really well together. Primarily, we produce women’s shoes. One person makes the soles, one makes the uppers and I am currently expanding my skills. Here, I’ve learned an additional new technique from Gabriele that I wasn’t familiar with before.
What I really like is that I can work independently and pursue my own projects. Recently, I crafted a prototype shoe that fits perfectly, representing a 100% success. The next step is to create the original shoe…
With Gabriele as my mentor, I can deepen my expertise. I can immerse myself in the vibrant life of Venice. When we need materials, I visit other workshops; I already know the people in the streets. I get a lot of insight into how such a business operates behind the scenes – it allows me to understand all the entrepreneurial tasks involved.
Anna Widni completed an apprenticeship as a bespoke shoemaker and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with the EYE Program.
Gabriele Gmeiner-Zito, originally from Vorarlberg, Austria, has been a bespoke shoemaker in Venice for twenty years now, running her own business.