United States President Barack Obama will soon count a pair of made-to-measure Italian shoes in his White House wardrobe, a Novara shoemaker has revealed.
Adriano Stefanelli, who in the past has crafted shoes for George W. Bush, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the Patriarch of Moscow, said a pair of lace-up black shoes in hand-sewn untreated leather will be sent to Washington on Monday morning free of charge.
''During Pope Benedict's last pastoral visit to America, I know that his shoes excited admiration from Bush, so I decided to prepare a pair for him too,'' said Stefanelli.
''Then the American ambassador asked me if I was planning to do something for the new president as well. I didn't even reply - I took the necessary information and I set to work immediately.
''The shoes are a classic Italian product perfect for Obama, who is a real enthusiast of the Made in Italy brand,'' he added.