To talk about Darcos is to talk about four generations of shoemakers. But to tell the beginning of their story, we must travel back to the late 19th century, specifically to Taurianova, a small town in southern Italy…
Seeking a better future for his family, Pasquale boarded one of the ships departing from Sicily to America with his wife and three of his children.
They settled in Flores, one of the most central neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, and from there, Pasquale began his work as a shoemaker.
His fourth son, Mario, was the one who continued his father's trade.
Entering the 1970s, his son César, inspired by the vision and courage of his grandfather Pasquale, decided to forge his own path and founded 'Darcos'.
The beginnings of Darcos can be traced back to the same neighborhood of Flores, where the family business started manufacturing women's shoes.
Over the years, Darcos has grown to have more than 15 stores throughout Argentina, becoming a reference and a registered trademark in the industry.
Continuing its expansion in the capital, Darcos opened its Suipacha store in Buenos Aires in 2003.
This strategic location further increased the brand's visibility and accessibility to dance enthusiasts in the city.
By 2004, César and his son Ariel added tango shoes to their extensive catalog.
It was the first Argentine company to manufacture its shoes with a steel shank in the heel, providing dancers with better stability and security when performing tricks.
At the same time, their double-cushioned insoles allow dancers to enjoy dancing for much longer without feeling fatigued.
In 2006, the Argentine Foreign Trade Secretariat chose Darcos as one of the representative brands for 'Semana Argentina por Máxima,' replicating its store in the prestigious Dutch department store chain De Bijenkorf.
This exhibition catapulted the brand to an international level, leading to distribution agreements with major international brands such as Worldtone (United States), Sato Shoes (Japan), and Samyshoes (France).
In 2009, Darcos won the Mercurio Award given by the Argentine Marketing Association in recognition of its work in the field of digital marketing.
This prestigious award has been presented since 1982 and has been given to brands such as Coca Cola, BMW, and Adidas.
The success story of Darcos has been studied by several universities in their marketing programs, including the prestigious University of Palermo in Buenos Aires.
Darcos has also excelled in organizing various tango-related events, including the 'Tango with the Stars' festival, held at the Palacio Paz in Buenos Aires, featuring stellar performances by Osvaldo Zotto, Milena Plebs, and Gabriel Missé.
In 2009, Darcos achieved a major milestone by becoming the official shoe supplier for the 'Bailando' TV show on national television in Argentina.
This partnership highlighted Darcos' reputation for quality and performance in dance footwear, bringing their products into the spotlight on one of the country's most popular television programs.
In 2010, Banco Galicia together with the newspaper La Nación recognized Darcos with the prestigious 'Exporter Excellence' award, thanks to its constant contribution to culture and the development of exports through its footwear worldwide.
This award recognizes companies that bring creative and innovative value to the export world.
Today, with over 50 years of experience, Darcos has become a reference in the world of dance footwear not only nationally but also internationally.
World tango champions have proudly worn Darcos' magical shoes and have experienced the power of dance firsthand.