Friday 10th April: Good Foot Friday

As the deadline for "Fashion Fringe" applications is looming (May 1st) I wanted to just announce the 1st year of a new Accessories section to the award, supported by Jimmy Choo's Tamara Mellon. The scheme set up by Colin McDowell is one of Britain's initiatives to find and fund new fashion design talent. Last year was the launch of the special shoe section to the sponsorship program. One of the finalists has just shown her 1st collection at fashion week and her name is being touted around the industry as the "one to watch". So I have followed in just those very foot steps and hunted down Sophie Gittins.

Having graduated from Cordwainers with 1st class honours and experience at Chloe, Sophie was shortlisted for the Fashion Fringe award and hyped by Vogue. Since this time she has put together her debut collection and collaborated with Hannah Marshall for her A/W show (which you can see in this snap from the factory).
The other 2 images are from Sophie's mainline of architecually accented feminine heels inspired by "Weiner Werkstatte". This also flows through in graphic print and even the name of each style taken from a different designer of the original movement. Each shoe is also embossed with a bumblebee logo chosen by Sophie as an emblem of achieving the impossible.............like all of us new designers embarking on entering the luxury market at a time when it is classed a discretionary purchase! But it looks like Sophie is on exactly the right path so this motto will no doubt ring true in time...................

I have asked her a few questions so these will follow in a couple more posts...............