On the banks of the Cumberland River, tucked away from the bustle of Music City, USA, Peter Nappi Studio is at once a luxury leather goods store, a music venue and a respite for anyone who walks through the doors.
“When people come to our studio, we want them to feel welcome, obviously,” said Dana Nappi, the president of the company. “We want them to get a sense of authenticity.”
Dana’s husband, Phillip, launched the brand in 2011 after learning that his interest in designing shoes reaches generations into the past.
“My husband has been passionate about shoes and footwear his whole life,” said Dana, “and we got to a point where now’s the time to start something new and let’s see what we can do in the footwear industry.”
Eager to pursue a dream, the couple and their infant daughter left their home in America for Italy.
While living in Florence, they immersed themselves in the craft of shoemaking. They researched leather and production facilities, and they learned about the exceptional attention to detail that sets handmade shoes apart.
But artisanship wasn’t all that Phillip and Dana Nappi learned in Italy— they also discovered that the Nappi family had a long history in shoemaking. Phillip Nappi lost both of his parents as a child; he grew up knowing little about his heritage. But while doing research in Italy, he found out that his grandfather, Peter, whom he never met, was also a shoemaker.
Peter Nappi came to America from Italy in 1904 with the title of “shoemaker” declared on his passage papers. He and his brother made their way to Columbus, Ohio, where they settled and opened a shoestore.
“When we uncovered this, it was truly like a calling from beyond,” said Dana. “It went from a hobby and a passion to alright this is a business, this is something that I’m doing that was in my family, and I’m continuing to build my family around it.” Armed with expert craftsmanship and a new sense of purpose, the Nappi family moved back to the U.S. and set to work out of their home in Nashville. Phillip designed the shoes and their team in Italy made them and sent them to Tennessee to
be sold.
The operation quickly grew too big to be executed in their house. They sought out a space that could be all that they needed it to be—a place to stock and showcase their products, a place to design new products and do business, and most importantly a place that could foster a sense of family, creativity and hospitality.
They stumbled upon what proved to be the perfect space by chance. The building was at the end of a dead-end road, beyond railroad tracks and tattered with ‘Do Not Enter’ signs. But the space had just enough promise, and it evolved from their office space and small-scale showroom into a fully functional retail store. It continues to fulfill their dreams as a community hub.
The Nashville community quickly latched on, and the shoes found their way onto the feet of country stars and people with an appreciation for high quality footwear and classic, enduring style.
The skill, passion and products that came from Italy didn’t gain traction in the South simply by chance. Instead, similar values make for likenesses in taste. “There’s a lot in the Southern heritage that almost echoes the Italian culture,” said Dana. “Family is very important in both, heritage is very important in both cultures as well. So when you build a product on those two platforms as the foundation, it
has similar aesthetics.”
For all of the support the Peter Nappi company has seen from their community, Philip and Dana have given back. They host regular, intimate musical performances with members of their exceptionally talented city and are eager to point visitors in the direction of their favorite restaurants and bars. They also hope that people will spend time in their store casually, and guests receive complimentary espressos and comfortable seating—a kind of hospitality that resonates with their roots on both
sides of the Atlantic.
“We want to be that kind of cultivator of creative energy,” said Dana. “It’s abou sharing knowledge and sharing contacts and really helping each other grow. That’s a part of what has turned Nashville into the great city that it is.”
Story by Jodi Cash
Photographs by Emily B. Hall