The Repetto legacy is moreover a success story. Opening her first boutique in 1946, Rose Repetto took to making technical dance shoes for her son – crafting a silhouette with a more comfortable and flexible fit, made possible by the innovation of her signature return stitch technique. Championed by celebrities like Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg, the Cinderella ballet pump and Zizi tap shoe have become studio essentials for dancers of all disciplines. In 2000, CEO Jean-Marc Gaucher joined the team and gave the heritage brand a dynamic, modern vision – aligning the artisanal brand with a fresh and attractive aesthetic. Working to remake the simple ballerina into a cult classic, Repetto collaborated with some of the most influential names in fashion, art and music like Yohji Yamamoto, Karl Lagerfeld, Stromae and Matthieu Chedid. Re-establishing its role as a key French icon, the brand went on to diversify into a selection of clothing and even a signature fragrance. Proud of its long-lasting influence in the world of dance, Repetto launched a foundation, ’Danse pour la Vie’ with the goal to provide support to dance schools from all over the world which encourages the education and rehabilitation of children through artistic expression

Each pair of Repetto originals starts life in Morocco with high-quality leather tanned using traditional dyeing techniques. Once they arrive in the Dordogne, each hide is inspected and stored before being ready for manufacture. Once the time comes to transform this high-quality leather into a pair of shoes, the leather is reversed, heated and cut to size.
Taking environmental impact into consideration, the brand has developed a returned stitch machine, especially for rubber soles. Improving production time, this economical move ensures the material is treated with the utmost care and attention.
Proud to be one of the last remaining footwear manufacturers in France, Repetto continues to produce all of its footwear at this atelier – even pairs that don’t get the iconic returned stitch treatment are soldered in-house. Creating professional dancewear and footwear to the very highest standards is more than a job, it’s a vocation – and a prized position that employees like Josette hold in high esteem.

EMore than just the unique stitch technique, Repetto footwear is also renowned for its precise and flawless finishing touches. Each part of the production chain is handcrafted and scrupulously supervised to ensure the footbed is securely fastened, the logo is carefully positioned and even the laces are presented correctly. Before they are beautifully wrapped in their box, each pair is shined and polished – ready to be shipped across the seas to the four corners of the globe.

Since 2010, Repetto has offered a customisation service on its iconic ballet shoes. Born from the multiple collaborations that helped elevate this truly special silhouette, customers can choose to personalise their own pair in types of luxury leather like crocodile, python and even eel! Using the latest technological advancements, their specially developed machines work with a wide range of materials to ensure a creative and exceptionally finished final product.