Interview: Lucila Iotti

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Sexy, unexpected, and attention getting. It’s everything you could want in a high heel, and it’s everything that Lucila Iotti delivers. Iotti started the eponymous label in her hometown of Buenos Aires where her father, Jorge Iotti, began his tailoring shop in 1920. In a city obsessed with shoes, her creations stand out with their eye-popping colors and mix of unexpected textures, including vinyl, patent leather, suede and leather. It’s certainly no surprise that her bold designs caught the attention of Patricia Field, Sex and the City’s infamous costume designer. We love Iotti’s latest collection, inspired by Brazil’s Carnival, and can’t wait to see what this innovator comes up with next. Check out our Q&A with this passionate Latina who is just as colorful as her shoes (even the electric orange and blue pair)!

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PP: How did the brand begin?

LI: The brand was born out of my frustration when I couldn’t find shoes in the market that reflected my aesthetic and that I would actually want to wear. It was the coming together of three friends that shared a vision; we opened a small shop in Palermo, a trendy neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Quickly we gathered a faithful group of followers that included fashion stylists, high heel fanatics and original design lovers. We caught the eyes of passing tourists and provoked admiring sighs from locals with our storefront window display.

PP: Who is your ideal customer?

LI: The one who doesn’t have to ask, “What do I wear them with?”

PP: What inspires your shoe designs??

LI: The multiple possibilities that come from mixing textures and colors are a constant inspiration. Also, the aim is to innovate through shape, explore and to take patterns to a new level. Really the main is inspiration is the WOMEN and the men who love to see themselves on top of fabulous heels.

PP: How do color and pattern play a role in your designs?

LI: Both are equally fundamental. Sometimes, the pattern can be very simple because the materials that I want to mix just ask for it. Other times I just want colors to explode and scream and be the main character. If that is the case my main tools are pattern because it allows me to play with many pieces that barely touch and provoke each other until they become a whole.

Coverage by: Rebecca Silver

October 1, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Event: Thomas Paul Sample Sale

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We seem to give One King’s Lane a lot of love here on Pattern Pulp, but it’s hard not to when bags like this pop up in our inbox! Today marks the start of Thomas Paul’s tote and pillow sample sale. Paul got started as a textile intern at DKNY, then branched off as a colorist and designer for a silk mill, Bill Blass, and Calvin Klein. He then ultimately started his own line of patterned home goods and textiles. Each print is vibrant, thoughtful and a true representation of bold elegance. Pop into this online sample sale for a refresher course on how to cross-pollinate your brand.

September 3, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Print: The Spherical Formula

Circular bursts serve as inspiration for countless campaigns and logo layouts. Be it corporate, luxury, indie or budget, there’s something subconsciously wholesome about a round shape that nearly everyone is drawn to. One of the reasons we’ve chosen to focus on Claudio Riaz’s make up brushes from Barney’s summer catalog and the Viceroy Hotel logo, which was appropriately placed in Ocean Drive, is that these two layouts, while wholly unrelated, make perfect visual sense when placed beside each other. Unintentionally, both images speak to the luxury traveler who considers themselves a minimalist. Add Levi’s Go Forth art to the mix and your younger sister and her camp friends have suddenly joined the graphic vacation. What’s the take away? Essentially, you’re halfway there if you choose the appropriate line quality, color and photography for your spherical identity.

September 1, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Linear Mosaics

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Sequins are back. Regardless of how much you love or hate these tiny embellishments, designers continue to incorporate them everywhere they can, in an effort to grab consumer attention. This month, we’ve been noticing a linear trend throughout top tier merchandise within the home and fashion sectors. Kim Seybert‘s sequined place mats are representative of an elegant approach that merges warm tones with gradation. Adding a sharper edge, these Ercole mosaic mirrors from ABC Home prove fall colors are making their way back onto the showroom floors. In an exploration of colder tones, Gucci’s fall collection plays homage to the disco ball, mimicking wild animal prints through the use of iridescent jewel tones.

September 1, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Monogram Motifs

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There will always be a market for monogramming. Be it on backpacks, stationary or towels, this customized marker is a sign of true ownership. “Monogramming transforms what’s off the rack into ones own. Even knowing that initials are hidden inside clothing or jewelry makes me feel special. I also like hunting for silver that’s marked with a monogram- either my own letters someone else’s,” says Elizabeth Sigal, a Pattern Pulp friend and Brand Strategist based in Austin, Texas. Elizabeth Bauer, an interior designer and shop owner in Manhattan, endorsed this tradition earlier this year, stocking tiger-striped dishes with more traditional type combinations. Tapping this trend that fuses color, prep and patterns, Pottery Barn Teen has just released their back to school collection, proving that animal prints and initials can transcend age, season and income bracket.

August 11, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Budget Friendly Bears

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Over the past few months, we’ve jumped on the online sample bandwagon. Though many of the wares from Gilt Group, Rue la la and One Kings Lane don’t necessarily bring us to hit the “purchase” button, today’s KUMA collection of teddy bears from Areaware, via One Kings Lane, have us in a buyer’s conundrum. This collection, designed by Ross Menuez, a Pattern Pulp favorite, is chock full of whimsically modern cuddly accessories. Additionally, the collection is comprised of organic cotton and printed with soy-based ink. Aside from the markdown, ease of purchase, and environmentally friendly ethos, we’re certain these bears will put a smile on anyone’s face, young or old.

August 4, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik