Feature: An Italian shoemaker with haute couture taste for China

Gianluigi Colombo, 71, is a shoemaker from Italy who works in Chengdu where he has been hired by local shoe brand Sheme. "When will I stop crafting shoes? When I will be old," he told Xinhua with a smile.

Colombo presented his Sheme creations at the China Pavilion at the world exposition in Milan, during the Beijing Week which closed earlier this week. "The important thing that I want to show here is there is a fantastic craftsmanship in China which must be brought to light and introduced to the rest of the world," he said.

The shoe master has as many as 60 years of experience and has worked with many A-list fashion brands in the past. He said he had just retired when he got an offer to join Sheme in Sichuan province's capital, where the brand opened its first boutique. "I realized that I could not stay away from shoes and so I accepted."

Almost six years later, his choice proved to be the right one. "The first few times that I went to China I used to criticize many things. Then I realized that it was because I did not know the customs and traditions of this splendid country where I have found my favorite place to live now."

Colombo cannot speak Mandarin, but he has no problems in communicating with his Chinese colleagues with the help of an interpreter but especially thanks to his curious and witty nature. "I am surrounded by people who are eager to learn and improve so it is very satisfactory to work with them," he said.

He loves to push his colleagues into trying their best. "Never be afraid to admit a mistake. If you are not satisfied about what you did, never hide it, but redo it again until you are fully satisfied" is his advice for everyone to achieve high-level results in life.

Colombo has to be extremely meticulous in his work because tolerating a small flaw can leave the door open for more flaws. Though the "made in China haute couture shoemaking" is just at its infancy, he believes the Asian country has all the potential to achieve the best.

Thanks to its fast development, China has been able to quickly absorb new trends, he noted. At the same time, China has conserved ancient traditions that have disappeared in most countries of the world, Colombo added.

China's modern fashion is the fortunate combination of these two factors, Colombo told Xinhua. "The mix between modern taste and ancient skills really is something wonderful and you can see the results here," he said, while showing shoes to Expo visitors.

"I love this mix that opens the tastes and minds of people," he observed.

But Colombo's life in Chengdu is not only work. "I have visited Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and other cities. China has become my second home," he said. The sense of optimism, faith in the future, will to do things and safety are something that he particularly appreciates in his everyday China life.

"In Italy we say that when you get old you return to be a child again. That is how I feel like in China. I feel surrounded by hard-working and passionate people with a deep sense of friendship and respect for me. I feel happy in Chengdu," Colombo said. Endit