Caterina Angerosa's Story: Founder of Anna Fiori Footwear

Caterina Angerosa - an iconic Australian immigrant who succeeded against all odds in the male-dominated footwear industry. Caterina went on to run one of the most prestigious women's shoe factories in Australia. One amazing woman whose talent and dedication to the footwear industry in Australia is second to none.

Section written by Julie Angerosa:  In 1942, in the middle of the Second World War and living in a small Italian village, a little girl dreamed that la befana (The Italian equivalent to Santa Claus) had left a new pair of red shoes under her bed. Alas, she awoke, but there were no red shoes under her bed, and from that day forward, the little girl vowed that when she grew up, she would make sure she would have shoes plenty.  Little did she realise that this vow would occupy the better part of sixty years of her life. This little girl is the founder of Anna Fiori, Caterina Angerosa. Shortly after immigrating to Australia in 1954, she sort work in a shoe factory. She first worked at Bordeaux Shoes, followed by Footrest, Gold Cross and Rumbling Hall.   

As an immigrant, she often felt ostracized by her Australian-born colleagues working in factories at the time. She promised herself that she would branch out on her own as soon as she could. In 1966, she and her husband Don started their own shoe company, which included their children Rick and Julie. Thanks to Joanne Mercer, it has had a resurgence with Matilda Life. 

Although the Anna Fiori factory in Thornbury, Melbourne, is much smaller than it was in the 1990s, Caterina and her children, Rick and Julie, are driven with skill, passion, and commitment to making quality shoes. Today, Caterina is still on the factory floor, supporting the Matilda Life production.