Giuseppe Zanotti is teaming up with another buzzy musician.
Following previous collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Zayn Malik, Rita Ora, Swae Lee and Mary J. Blige, this time the Italian footwear designer is cooking up something with American rapper Playboi Carti.
In a short statement on Saturday, Zanotti called the Grammy-nominated artist “one of hip-hop’s most exciting superstars” and noted that the new project “melds street style with luxury craft and contemporary edge.”
“Always in search of interesting talent and forever inspired by the music world, Giuseppe discovered a kindred spirit in Playboi Carti and Playboi Carti in Giuseppe,” the brand statement said. “After catching up at the designer’s showroom in Milan, the duo decided it was time to take their relationship one step deeper.”
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To kick off the relationship, Zanotti and the rapper will release a limited-edition sneaker boot this weekend. The designer label described the silhouette in a statement as a “unique shoe where the iconic elements of the Zanotti sneakers meet the artist’s edgy style.” It features a black leather upper with chrome metal plate accents.
More details on the partnership between Giuseppe Zanotti and Playboi Carti are expected to come soon.
This is not the first time Giuseppe Zanotti has teamed up with a famous musician on shoes. Most recently, Zanotti released two thigh-high boots with Mary J. Blige in 2024.
“I’m truly so thankful to my fans,” the “Just Fine” singer said in a November 2024 statement. “The reaction to my first boot collaboration with Giuseppe really blew me away. The new thigh-high version made in winter white patent was born from what my fans wanted. I’ve been asked for years about making my own thigh-high boots and it’s exciting that they’re here now and I get to continue working with my friend Giuseppe.”
Several years prior, the Italian footwear designer tapped Swae Lee on a men’s capsule collection in 2020. The “Giuseppe for Swae Lee” limited-edition capsule included boots, in both canvas and in allover glittery versions, a pair of slippers, as well as customized high and low-top Blabber sneakers.
The new partnership with Playboi Carti also comes amid changes to the shoe brand. In February 2025, Giuseppe Zanotti revealed he had bought back the minority stake in his namesake brand from investment fund L Catterton. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
The partnership with L Catterton had helped Zanotti expand its global presence and invest in innovation, retail and digital development.
In 2014, L Catterton — at the time L Capital Management and L Capital Asia — took a 30 percent stake in the Zanotti brand. The majority stake remained in the hands of its founder.
