Our Story

Born from a
Singular Obsession

Where Obsession
Meets Craft

OBSIDIAN was founded in 2008 by master cobbler Marco Levi in a Florence atelier no bigger than a garage. Frustrated by the compromise between luxury aesthetics and real-world performance, he set out to create shoes that could do both — flawlessly.

Eighteen years later, we still make every pair the same way: by hand, with obsessive attention to detail, using only materials we would stake our name on. Because we do.

Explore the Collection
Atelier
18 Years of
Craft

Heritage

Our Journey

2008

The Florence Atelier

Marco Levi opens a small workshop on Via Tornabuoni with three apprentices and one guiding principle: never sacrifice quality for speed.

2011

The First Limited Edition

The "Nero Assoluto" collection — just 50 pairs — sells out in 48 hours. OBSIDIAN's reputation for exclusivity is born.

2015

International Expansion

Flagship stores open in London, New York, and Tokyo. The brand earns its first feature in Vogue and GQ simultaneously.

2019

The Sustainability Pledge

OBSIDIAN commits to carbon-neutral production by 2025, partnering with certified sustainable tanneries and eliminating single-use packaging.

2023

The Digital Bespoke Studio

Clients can now commission a fully bespoke pair online — from leather selection to last fitting — delivered within 12 weeks.

2026

Spring / Summer Collection

Our boldest collection yet — 12 silhouettes, 3 exclusive materials, and the debut of our adaptive comfort system.

Our Philosophy

What We Stand For

01

Integrity of Material

We source only what we would personally wear. Every leather is tasted, touched, and tested before a single stitch is made.

02

Mastery Over Scale

We deliberately limit production. A smaller number of exceptional pairs beats a warehouse of mediocre ones, every time.

03

Legacy in Every Stitch

We build shoes meant to be resoled, repaired, and passed down. Fast fashion ends in landfills. OBSIDIAN ends in heirlooms.

The Hands Behind the Work

Our Master Artisans

Marco Levi

Marco Levi

Founder & Master Cobbler

David Chen

David Chen

Head of Design

Sofia Reyes

Sofia Reyes

Leather Specialist

Elias Vogt

Elias Vogt

Welt & Sole Master

Ready to Wear the Craft?

Browse the full collection or commission a bespoke pair made exactly to your specification.