|
|
All Designers
| | |
|
The Aquatalia group was established in 1989, with offices in Montreal, New York and Milan. With over 35 years of industry experience, Marvin K. oversees the family run company and its design and production teams. Aquatalia uses the best of soft, supple Italian leathers and materials and is manufactured using the highest quality standards. Aquatalia
footwear successfully combines the most advanced technology available today with a distinct urban sophistication. The footwear is engineered
to perform in a variety of conditions, at home, at play or while traveling around the world.
|
|
|
| |
|
“My shoes are like Hitchcock Blondes. Like Kim Novak and Grace Kelly, they have a distinct look that is mysterious and beautiful. Each one tells a story.”
With a collection of vintage designer shoes that once exceeded 500 pairs, Bettye Muller is what you might call a connoisseur-though, she didn’t always realize footwear was her specialty. Instead, the New York native spent her early years as a competitive ice skater and ice skating instructor, graphic designer, shoe model and soap opera actress before she created her first small collection of shoes while living in London in the 1980s.
When she returned to the States, Bettye designed shoes for labels including L’Emporio, Henri Bendel, Marc Jacobs for Perry Ellis and Linda Allard for Ellen Tracy before taking her professional pursuits to Miami, Florida. She eventually returned home to New York City and in 1998 started her own label with just a handful of styles.
Today, her 60-piece collection is informed by her love of luxurious fabrics as well as experiences living abroad in England and Italy and travels to the Far East, and Central and South America. In styles that range from 50s modern to 20s and earlier, Bettye Muller shoes are vivid, pretty and as colorful as the designer’s own eclectic tastes. Inspired by vintage fabrics and intense colors such as Bordeaux, granny apple and tangerine, her collections create a sense of fantasy for women.
Since they’re unique, her shoes aren’t for just anyone. Attracting modern-day blondes from Katie Couric to Cameron Diaz, the artist says that women who wear her pieces must have a great sense of self and a distinct style. “They’re a statement, so the women who wear them must be very confident,” she says.
|
|
|
|
|
For thirty years I have owned my own company designing fabulous shoes for fabulous women. I understand women because I am a woman. Women love shoes and I love to make women happy. My shoes have done so well over the years because I know what women want and what men dream about.
I was born in a very small, conservative New England town and I always thought, ‘if I looked the same as everyone else, what young man would ever notice me?’ I use this same thinking for my shoes and handbags. I design to attract attention with color, style and always just a touch of leopard- for a bit of wildness in all of us.
Men appreciate me more than I do them. And the men I appreciate the most are the ones that work for me. Of course, being spoiled with extravagance always elicits a positive reaction. I believe in women being spoiled, but it is usually less costly emotionally when we spoil ourselves.
I live happily in Spain, in another very small town, although I am a real New Yorker at heart. In Spain, I am ten minutes from the Meditteranean, but I never see I as I design 1500 shoes and handbags every year which keeps me busy. I have been designing so long, you can find me under ‘Vintage’ on Ebay, and so have recently begun to create my own museum of Beverly Feldman shoes. This way, when I am 120 years old, I can auction off my shoe collection with my jewelry-and start all over again.
You will find me to be a Fashion Victim First Class, shamelessly indulging in endless compulsion to buy lipstick, always in pursuit of the perfect color. I love dancing and shopping, but most of all, I love dressing up to be noticed. I believe women over 50 years should not be married. The circle of life is to get married, get divorced, and then have a great time with younger lovers That is how to stay young and gorgeous.
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Atwood created his eponymous shoe label in 2001, and has since developed a devoted, cult like following for his brazenly sexy footwear. The most elaborate skins, the longest fringe, the most glittering jewels go into his fantasy footwear, which brilliantly illustrates that over the top truly begins at the bottom.
The designer’s love affair with fashion began at an early age, growing up in a suburb outside of Chicago where he spent hours as a boy gazing at his mother’s impeccable wardrobe. That early aesthetic flair was developed at Southern Illinois University where he studied art and architecture, and eventually led him to New York where he studied clothing design at FIT. Right after graduating, he hopped on a plane and began a fruitful modeling career on the catwalks of Europe, but all the while, he was filling the margins of his notebooks with doodles of four inch stilettos- a clear indication of his career to come.
In 1996, Atwood became the first American to be hired by Gianni Versace in Milan. Starting with designing the company’s Versus line, he was soon promoted to chief designer for women’s accessories, where he mastered the intricacies of shoe design and high quality production and succeeded in creating an incredible brand identity for the accessories division.
In 2001, Atwood finally took the plunge and created his own label dedicated to stop and stare, drop-dead-gorgeous shoes made from the best manufacture in Italy. Atwood, clearly an ally for all females, is singularly devoted to making women’s bottom halves look long, lean and fabulously sexy-and he does it all without killing their feet.
|
|
|
| | | | |
|
The Casadei label is synonymous with an all-Italian success story, marked by the milestones achieved thanks to great passion and self-sacrafice. The brand can trace its origins back to 1958, when Quinto and Flora Casadei founded the first embroyo of what was to grow into a company of international reach.
And we have to admit that the instinct of Quinto Casadei-currently at the helm of the footwear and leather facilities of S. Mauro Pascoli in the province of Cesena-proved strong and true when he decided to expand his small crafts laboratory, in which he had already started to produce dream footwear of sophisticated workmanship for a select female clientele. This entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit enabled Casadei to go beyond Italy’s borders in long-ago 1964, already revealing the chief talent of the men of this company: a vocation for anticipating styles and trends. Today, Cesare is the driver and creative spirit of Casadei, in addition to refereeing its commercial outcomes, while his cousin Fabrizio manages the maisons financial affairs. Season after season, Cesare is the sharp and sensitive interpreter of a tenacious and unflagging impulse to continuously renew and reinvent the family company’s DNA, crafting shoes for women who the creative and business mind defines as original, self-confident and alternative, yet always and inevitably the stars of the galaxy in which they live.
|
|
|
| | | |
|
For over eight decades, Delman has appealed to women who appreciate chic, luxurious shoes that are timeless, yet innovative. Stories and anecdotes about Delman shoes are passed down from generation to generation, providing memorable fashion moments for women of all ages. Numerous twentieth century style icons including Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis all donned Delman shoes. Continuing this legacy, new generations of women, including some of today’s top trendsetters, are wearing Delman shoes for their fit, exceptional quality and fashion forward designs. Delman presents a wide range of styles, including an array of toe characters,colors,shapes, and heel heights, ensuring that their is a variation of shoes for every type of women Delman presents sleek silhouettes that are ornately finished and can be found everywhere from Park Avenue to Palm Beach. Traditional and classic styles are updated with contemporary flair and crafted in the finest Italian leathers-soft, supple patents, and refined suede’s and kidskins. From elegant flats to the sexiest sandals, Delman shoes are guaranteed to make women feel fabulous.
|
|
|
| | |
|
After building brand images for some of the world’s most successful companies, Elizabeth Brady is passionate about building another brand-her own. With a crystal clear vision of how beautiful shoes move the emotions of women, Elizabeth uses her experience and her innate creative talents and inventions to launch her premiere line of couture women’s shoes.
As the latest in three generations of shoe artisans, entering the world of footwear was Elizabeth Brady’s destiny. Elizabeth describes her style as expressive, exuberant and rhythmic; with a design philosophy to take clean modern shapes and add softly executed details to make the overall shoe and expression of creativity and spirit.
Elizabeth Brady shoes are handmade in Italy using only the finest Italian leathers fashioned in soft nappa and suede’s, along with textural reptiles and sleek patents.
|
|
|
| |
|
It is the 1980’s. Giuseppe Zanotti, in its early twenties, treasuring the time-honored and deep-rooted shoemaking tradition of his native town, San Mauro Pascoli, starts his career as a fashion designer and collaborates with internationally renowned companies for several years. His initial focuses are line, style and research.
In mid-nineties, eager to fully express his ideas and not to have to come to terms with his talent, starts a project called Vicini. Together, with his wife Cinzia, he takes over a company that can manufacture the shoes of his dreams, a company that might be defined as an “expanded style office,” because he would make style, research, creativity its beating heart. Giuseppe Zanotti has been the first actor of this story, a grown-up young man who followed his dream and has never stops, and never stops looking for something more.
|
|
|
| | | |
JEROME C. ROUSSEAU showcases the distinctive luxury footwear collections of Jerome Chouinard-
Rousseau. His creations are rich and studied, modern and sexy, with individual flair and an
uncompromising luxurious appeal. The acclaimed collections have been selected by reputed high end
boutiques and department stores worldwide, including Wish (St-Louis), Barneys, Net-a-porter, Fred
Segal Feet (Los Angeles), Harvey Nichols (London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Riyadh), Le Bon Marche
(Paris), Holt Renfrew (Canada), Dover Street Market (London), La Vetrina di Beryl (Milan), Mahna Mahna
(Tokyo), Septieme (Switzerland), The Wynn Resorts (Las Vegas) and others.
The collection consists of glamorous day and evening footwear including heeled sandals, geometric
block heeled pumps, peep-toe booties, intricate lace-up boots and more. Each expertly crafted piece
has a distinctive look, combining the finest materials and techniques from Tuscany’s reputed artisans.
Inspiration for the AW 2009 collection comes from diverse influences, mixing Victorian elements with a
glam and new wave aesthetic hinting at the late 70’s French group Elli et Jacno, as well as a young Kate
Bush. The end result is a selection of modern footwear with a studied silhouette and a rich, highly
considered color palette reminiscent of Victorian patterns. Key colors include purple, red, grey, bronze
and a saturated blue.
|
|
|
| | | | |
|
Well-traveled, culturally and artistically inclined, Fiona Kotur Marin often finds inspiration from exotic lands with rich histories of textile and ornament. She first introduced a limited edition of brocade clutches under her maiden name, KOTUR, in 2004, inspired by the remarkable discovery of a trove of vintage brocades that was originally woven for European Couture houses in 1960s and 1970s.
The Collection has since expanded to include chic, sought-after minaudieres, evening clutches and day handbags, and is characterized by refined and timeless design, and infused with unique and unexpected details- Mandarin locks, art deco references, rich embellishment and exotic skins-Italian python, Ayers Snakeskin, Shagreen and Tortoise penshell finishes.
Fiona often names the bags after her muses-her friends as inspirations: accomplished, bright, worldly and chic: women just like her, full of passion, vitality, and individuality. The bags have become favorites among Hollywood celebrities like Sienna Miller, Mischa Barton, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow to name a few.
|
|
|
|
|
Lily Holt comes from the exploration of different cultures and natural materials. It is the mixture of exotic elements and contemporary design that makes our creations unique. Lily Holt is rare and distinguished; she is part of the spirit of the time.
|
|
|
|
|
At Loeffler Randall, we have set out to create the perfect lifestyle assortment for the chic, modern girl-from the ultimate ballerina flat to the perfect luxury satchel- and starting this season- to the most beautiful winter coat. When we began in, our idea was to design the kind of shoes that we wanted to wear but couldn’t find- shoes that possess an understated elegance, are well cute and undeniably feminine. Handbags were added to the assortment for fall 2006. The Loeffler Randall brand embodies luxury and downtown elegance and has been enthusiastically embraced by the fashion press and the finest retailers in the world.
|
|
|
|
|
Luciano Padovan which is located in the historically important shoe making area just outside Milan has achieved in the last few years a significant international following for its shoes and handbags. This is in large part due to its capacity to always offer products with a strong fashion identity in line with the times, and also due to the workmanship and creative drive of being entirely made in Italy. It is fundamental for the company to be constantly evolving, always giving new reasons to the consumer to remain faithful to the brand and to our most prestigious and demanding clients, offering the highest quality by mixing tradition, research and innovation with a strong attention to detail like the use of the most refined and exclusive material. Next to the shoes are the handbags, which as an important compliment to the clothing, and seeing the growing demand from its clients, Luciano Padovan will be making further investments into the handbag production capacity.
|
|
|
|
|
It was 1880 when Sam Lucchese Sr. and his brothers came to America. Although he was just 17 years old, the young Lucchese had a vision for a career in bootmaking, and just three years later, the Lucchese Boot Company was established in San Antonio, Texas. The family’s dedication to its craft and to its customers kept the business alive, but wasn’t until the early 1960’s that the founder’s grandson and namesake decided to rethink the art of bootmaking. The world has never known a finer, more knowledgeable craftsman than Sam Lucchese Jr. His fascination with and comprehensive understanding of the human foot inspired him to create a boot design that fits like no other and although Lucchese’s one-of-a-kind boot last design required more skill and time, the result was a boot that quickly gained national recognition for its extraordinary comfort, quality, and fit.
|
|
|
|
|
A native of southern California, Marnie Cooper’s family is comprised of a balanced combination entrepreneurs as well as artists. Having grown up in the beauty business, Marnie often refers to herself as a beauty brat. After studying design in San Diego, Marnie went on to work in sales for her parent’s hair care distribution company. Eventually, she became a valued independent manufacturer’s rep for other lines.
After moving to Texas, the openness and natural beauty of the hill voluntary allowed generations of creativity to emerge. Needing a cute bag to carry her products in to a fashion show, Marnie decided to try her hand at sewing. She found a ladybug ribbon that she used as a label to give it a designer look, and the first Marnie Bug was born. The end result was rave reviews and enough orders to convince her to give up the beauty industry and focus on fashion instead.
When it comes to her deigns, Marnie feels it’s important that they not only be beautiful and high quality, but also functional and wearable. She aspires to offer something unique and versatile that will last beyond one season.
|
|
|
| |
M Z WALLACE was founded in January 2000 by Monica Zwirner and Lucy Wallace Eustice.
The line includes bags, luggage and accessories for women and men. Innovative yet classic, M Z WALLACE appeals to a multitude of personal styles. Its goal is to create a quality product whose style endures.
Women's Wear Daily hailed M Z WALLACE's debut, calling the collection "fashionable and refined." Harper's Bazaar wrote, "Lucy Wallace Eustice and Monica Zwirner design handbags with a studied simplicity." Wallpaper proclaimed of the collection, "they're the sort of pieces that say, I have arrived," rather than "I am running to catch up." In short, the line is classic with a twist.
|
|
|
| | | | |
|
The Rodo story began in 1956 with the dream of young Romualdo Dori. Central to the story was a symbol of fashion and elegance of the early twentieth century; the typical Florentine straw hat. This was the specialty of the Dori family, created for many generations in their Tuscan workshop, one of the most acclaimed in the area. Romulado, using the techniques of the family factory, designed a handbag inspired by Dutch shopping baskets. Interesting enough, in order to find funding for the plan to produce his first bags, he employed the financial backing of his family housekeeper. And thus was born the first Rodo collection and the brand name which would define new craze for the wicker handbag. Rodo, the name formed by combining the first two letters of Romualdo’s names, would come to be known as one of the foremost in handbags artesian in Italy. Designing the collections over the years with his wife Daira, Mr.Dori has created a family of designers and craftsmen, eventually passing on the passion and creativity of the brand to his son Maurizio Dori Rodo’s current designer. Since 1975, Rodo has presented a shoe collection to coordinate with its handbags, in recent years the Rodo shoe line has come to referent half of its global business has elevated the brand to one of the most sought after boutique collections in the world. Both the shoes and bag collections are designed and produced in house creating a spirit unique to the brand. The Rodo image is linked to its elegant yet simple even regal look; it has long been admired and collected by royal fashion icons, such as the empress of Japan, Soraya empress of Persia and Caroline of Monaco. The Rodo aesthetic is defined by a graceful attention to subtly and detail. These small objects of beauty, crafted for almost 50 years by the Dori family’s passion, creativity and joy, are simply treasures.
|
|
|
|
|
Rupert Sanderson formed his company in August 2001 and has produced a new shoe collection every season since. He spends 4 months of the year in Italy refining each shoe with the artisans in and around Bologna, where he designed for Sergio Rossi and Bruno Magli after perfecting his art at the Cordwainers College in East London. In July 2006 Rupert Sanderson bought a controlling interest in the factory he had been working with from his first collection which ensures every pair of shoes are the best they can be. Rupert Sanderson’s design philosophy is simple; less is more. He concentrates on perfecting the line, volume and material of the showed. Every Rupert Sanderson shoe is named after a variety of Daffodil.
|
|
|
| | | | |
|
Tory Burch is a lifestyle collection of shoes, sportswear and accessories for women, which embodies the personal style and spirit of it founder and creative director, Tory Burch. Perceiving a void into the market for a sophisticated American aesthetic at an accessible price point, Ms. Burch wanted to create stylish yet wearable shoes, clothing and accessories for women of all ages. Tory Burch was launched in February of 2004 with the opening of a flagship store in New York City.
Tory Burch blends timeless and classic design elements and modern fashion sensibilities. Ms.Burch achieves this by drawing on her understanding of vintage clothing, fashion history and tailoring, and by accenting it with bohemian and ethnic details. Particularly significant to this diverse mix are bold and geographic prints in colors that convey the spirit of each collection. The Tory Burch collection provides an original look for the style-conscious women who might be aware of the trends but does not rely on them.
Tory Burch was born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and currently resides in New York City. Ms. Burch has spent her entire career in fashion with experiences at Zoran, Harpers Bazaar, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang and Loewe.
|
|
|
| | |
|