He started his fashion career in the 1980s. In the beginning, he started working locally with small craftsmen and then as a freelance designer working with fashion maisons like Valentino, Thierry Mugler, Missoni, Dior, Roberto Cavalli, and Gianfranco Ferré.
In 1994, Zanotti took over a small shoemaking company, the Vicini shoe factory, and devoted his time to designing and manufacturing his own shoes.
With a small workshop employing 15 people, including a jeweler, a heel and tree expert and an embroiderer, he started work on his first collection. Today, more than 350 skilled people work at his company, which manufactures over 400,000 pairs of luxury Men and women's shoes.