While many of his peers slurp Jell-O shots and indenture themselves to internships, 20-year-old Nicolò Beretta is laying ground for a footwear empire. But don’t mistake Giannico, Beretta’s three-year-old luxury shoe line for just another millennial whim.

“I don’t remember a time in my life when I was not designing fashion,” the Milan-based wunderkind tells Alexa. “Since I was a little child, I remember drawing dresses, shoes and bags for the princesses of my imaginary world.”

As his sketches became more sophisticated, Beretta began focusing on shoes. In 2011 the aspiring designer visited London department store Harvey Nichols for a meet-and-greet with Manolo Blahnik, who, after seeing his work, advised him to get serious about starting a business. And that he did.

Forgoing fashion school, Beretta founded Giannico in 2013, and has witnessed an uncommon ascent in the short time since. His playful, surrealistic heels — which sell for up to $1,700 on a handful of Web sites, including Giannico’s own — have caught on not only with the street-style set (see: Giovanna Battaglia), but also with boldfacers like Karolína Kurková, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga, who Beretta says is one of his idols.

Who else might break for stripes, Swarovski crystals and 3-D flowers — all on the same stiletto?

“The woman who wears Giannico is stylish and sexy — but never vulgar,” Beretta explains. She probably has a big imagination, too.