On my last trip to Paris, I snapped a tremendous reel of photos. The most prevalent theme throughout was leopard. From accessory overload to a visit to the Museum of Hunting and Nature, the accents were cool and accessible while still timeless. I added one of my favorite skirts as well, just to show how the pattern can transcend traditional styles.
If Patternity made footwear, I wouldn’t be surprised if it looked something like this. LemLem, the Ethiopian-made label by model and activist, Liya Kebede recently launched these wonderful slip-on oxfords. Made for colder climates with Italian Merino wool, these graphic flats are part of a beautiful initiative for female empowerment . In an effort to provide economic independence for women from Kebede’s hometown, she created a weaving studio for all of LemLem’s products. Read more about it here.
Having just returned from a 10 day scouting trip to London and Paris, there’s lots of catching up to do this week! I took hoards of photos and have hours of editing ahead of me, as even pre-holiday, both cities were brimming with creative inspiration. One thing that was consistently present was hardware (of course). Moving beyond pyramid accessorized clothing, cone-shaped gold and silver pieces were rampant. This parallel between Christian Louboutin’s most recent footwear and this pigeon-like-people-deterrent outside a London bank is priceless. Art imitating life never gets old.
Few motifs are as powerful as the starburst. We recently highlighted this symbol’s universal appeal and versatility in relation to logo design and beauty editorial. Today’s theme follows a similar track with other inspirational layouts. This R & Y Augousti mother of pearl serving tray is comprised of natural materials, giving it ethnic appeal. Following a similar path, Kate Miss, a New York based designer, advertises her Etsy shop organizing vibrant necklaces in a playful circular formation. The French footwear company, Repetto incorporates photo effects to emulate a snowflake with their Fall/Winter 08 advertisement. All successful executions inspired by the spherical formula!
By: Shayna Kulik
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
Aimée Wilder is a pattern designer to watch. Her prints can be found throughout the homegoods and fashion worlds, adorning pillows, walls, diaper bags and most recently, footwear. Each of Wilder’s repeats are beautifully sophisticated with commercial appeal that raises the mass market ante. Applying a refined color palette, Wilder veers away from sugary pastels that are category specific. As a native New Yorker, Wilder spent her school holidays exploring fashion showrooms where both of her parents worked, soaking in trends and textiles, laying a foundation that would later influence her budding career. Keep note of Wilder’s work, as we’re certain only good things will come from this Brooklyn wunderkind.
Additional contributions by Emily Gup.