Global Footwear Awards 2021 is inviting footwear designers across the globe to showcase their best work

The LA-based Global Footwear Awards (GFA) is now accepting submissions before the early bird deadline closes on July 26th, 2021.

On a mission to uncover visionary design talents, both established and student designers are invited to submit their most innovative and game-changing designs.

The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the worlsdd with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all footwear divisions, from Fashion to Sports. Entries are evaluated at three different levels: Brands, Independent Designers and students, in order to provide a fair opportunity to each level.

Hodei_club by Benjamin Thomas
Category winner in Ethical Manufacturing 
No glue / No-sew / Limited materials / Easy to disassemble or repair / Simple to Recycle

According to Hossein Farmani, president of International Design Awards (IDA), sister company to GFA, the Global Footwear Awards honours the best in the industry, addressing creativity, innovation, sustainability and social impact.

“We, at International Design Awards (IDA), are very excited to create an awards specifically for footwear design as we see a tremendous design potential within this field. I see a fast-growing momentum of young footwear talents that truly deserve global recognitions. There are many great works that bridges art, footwear and technology together, which is extremely exciting”, said Hossein Farmani, International Design Awards (IDA) president. 

The GFA Jury Panel consists of leading international professionals from different disciplines within the footwear industry, including renowned footwear professionals, major publications, retailers and institutions. Judges will particularly be on the lookout for extraordinary designers who are producing coveted and exceptional creations.

"The special part of the Global Footwear Awards is the way we evaluate designs, not by popularity, but through the lens of cross-disciplinary professionals, with a long experience within the footwear industry. The winning designs will truly make a mark and set examples of what true innovation and sustainability means in the footwear industry”, added Siramol On-Sri, GFA Director.

The Global Footwear awards also honours strategic thinking and innovative solutions to medical footwear, sustainability and social impact to inspire many more social responsibility projects to come. 

Here are some of their jury’s words:

“Having judged the awards and really investigated what each brand/trainer was about, it was so great to see a dedication to sustainability and ethical practices on so many fronts. It's one thing designing and manufacturing great-looking shoes, but to do so and achieve a high-level of sustainable awareness at the same time is applaudable.” Zak Maoui, British GQ Style Editor.

“Apart from enjoying the variety in creativity I was most happy to see that more and more designers start to think of footwear as an area to tackle socio-political issues and so plays a part in taking the discipline beyond only reproducing styles of fashion, and playing with technology, and engaging with real-life issues.” Eelko Moorer, London College of Fashion MA footwear course leader.

The Global Footwear Awards aims to celebrate their exceptional creations at a global level, while honouring sustainable practices that will inspire the industry as a whole.  

For more information, click HERE.  

French frou-frou thrills. Roger Vivier: Spring/Summer 2019 Presentation During Paris Fashion Week

Feminine, chic, elegant.  So thrillingly French. What’s not to like even for the woman who has everything; there’s always room for more footwear and frou-frou fun, if they are as desirable as  Gherardo Felloni’s new Spring/Summer 2019 Collection for the luxury Parisian footwear and accessories brand  Roger Vivier.

The new collection presented during Paris Fashion Week a few days ago is a “cinematic homage to Parisian Distinction”. 

Under the banner of Hotel Vivier, it is indeed an ode to women, carrying the essence of the brand in all their diversity and beauty, that started with a journey of exploration into the archives of the Maison, to inspire a new creative vocabulary for the Vivier woman.

Note the sparkle of the bejewelled buckles, the strategically placed feather, the ornate bows and the folds of the rose, from slippers to the kitten heel, the gamut of jewel and candy colours, and the matching or mix-and-match handbags.

According to Gherardo Felloni the creative director of the Parisian brand, women are like flowers in a garden - romantic but sometimes abandoned – where many varieties have taken their rightful place, in freedom.

But equally enticing for the modern woman are the sneakers and handy cute knapsacks that receive the same feminine treatment.  That very imagination and rich variety of women are at the heart of a living and breathing world for the presentation of the collection.

“Hotel Vivier is a place like no other, where women reveal all the richness, complexity, beauty and intensity of their personalities. Just as I went on a journey of discovery over the years to capture their many facets, my guests will make their own discoveries at every turn and inside every room, meeting the characters who inspire me every day.”  – Gherardo Felloni

Stepping through the doors of the ‘Hotel Vivier’ is like walking into a sequence of scenes from a film. At the intersection of fiction and reality, the experience feels both familiar and unexpected. It is a fascinating place where visitors are invited to discover the world of Roger Vivier.

According to their press release, Gherardo Felloni creative director of Roger Vivier believes that the essence of Roger Vivier can be distilled into three fundamental pillars: silhouette, colour and exclusivity.

Each one is articulated in new ways. The distinctive silhouette is enhanced by a low kitten heel creating a modern look with couture flair. When it comes to colour, Felloni never shies away from it. The rich colour palette carried through the collection is not just a bold style statement, it is a powerful vehicle to project the joie-de-vivre and positivity that have always been part of Roger Vivier’s DNA.

Exclusivity, the final essential ingredient articulated by the designer in his collection is a nod to Monsieur Vivier’s creations, unique works of art commissioned for special occasions that showcased exceptional craftsmanship, unbridled creativity, elaborate shoes embellished with feathers, crystals, knotted threads.

At the heart of the collection, the Très Vivier creations continue a long tradition of unapologetic elegance, displaying the same head-turning qualities as the legendary pumps that took the fashion world by storm in the 1960s.

The large square buckle in polished metal pays tribute to the aesthetics of the original pump, while a myriad of materials and textures brings Vivier sophistication, and the new Très Vivier bag with an oversized buckle is designed to be perfectly paired with the pumps.

The Très Vivier Strass Pump

All photos by Francois Durand/Getty Images For Roger Vivier - taken at the Roger Vivier Presentation Spring/Summer 2019 during Paris Fashion Week on September 27, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photos 

Po-Zu's Limited Edition Star Wars™ | Po-Zu sneakers are Out-of-This-World-Cool

Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, this Limited-Edition High-Top Silver Resistance Sneaker is among the latest addition of the co-branded Star Wars| Po-Zu foorwear range and fans and sneaker lovers can order one of the 1,000 limited production on the Po-Zu website, with the shoes set to ship in October 2017, just in time for Christmas and the launch of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The Limited-Edition High-Top Silver Resistance Sneaker is also on display in London with the rest of the collection at the Museum of Brands for London Design Week from 1st September.

Handcrafted in Portugal, the Limited-Edition Silver Resistance Sneakers are made from Pinnatex (pineapple leaf fibre, a vegan leather alternative) combined with silver woven linen, and featuring a rubberised official Rebel Alliance badge, quilted rear panel, removable memory foam Foot-Mattress™, and a high-performance grip natural latex sole.

Sven Segal, Founder of Po-Zu says: “We take pride in the craftsmanship and heritage of our shoes. They are designed to last and be loved. We go the extra mile to make our shoes ethically and sustainably so you can wear them with clear conscience from dawn till dusk. We want them to be comfortable, collectable and wearable. This sneaker has all of that and more. I love that it is vegan too.”

Globe Seeker shoes to dream.explore.live.

Summer time, when the chilling out is good.

In my Globe Seeker shoes ... I'm ready to ... dream.explore.live.  

Style reference: Ocean Oriental

Above photos ©Alan Tyler 2017 for My Fashion Connect Global.

United Nude moving flagship from London to L.A.

In preparation for the opening of its new Los Angeles headquarters, the footwear brand United Nude is announcing the closure of its London flagship in Covent Garden with an End of Lease sale.

Coinciding with the move from its Floral Street address, United Nude is inviting all Londoners and customers to visit the store for one last time and shop from both past and present collections, as well as limited edition samples from collaborations counting Iris van Herpen, Zaha Hadid and Issey Miyake.

The in-store ONLY ‘super sale’ will offer shoppers exclusive access to take advan-tage of extensive clearance discounts of up to 80% OFF all United Nude women’s and men’s shoes and accessories collections, and will be held while stocks last, from August 1 through September 24.

The brand was established in 2003 by Dutch architect Rem D Koolhaas, together with Galahad Clark (a seventh generation shoemaker).  Each pair of United Nude shoes is a reinterpretation of an architectural object or seen an exploration of the possibilities offered by movement, colours and materials.
Named winner of a 2016 Wallpaper* Design Award, United Nude is positioned as a world leader in architectural footwear and accessories. The brands shoes are sold in over 50 countries world, with concept stores in Amsterdam, London, Vienna, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Taipei and Beijing.

All photos by © Lucia Carpio 2017 

Clarks x Christopher Raeburn - shared values reflected in new shoe collaboration

Despite the fact that there are almost 200 years that separate their origins, British footwear brand Clarks and London Fashion Week designer Christopher Raeburn’s first collaboration reflects their shared love of craftsmanship, and presents a Spring/Summer 2016 range of shoes that celebrate style and purpose that uniquely represent the ethos of both brands.

Clarks x Christopher Raeburn’s first collection for both men and women consists of eleven styles that were previewed to the press last autumn and I’m please to say the range will now be launched in stores in February.

The range combines Clarks' rich heritage of craft and shoe making expertise and the inspiration for Christopher Raeburn’s Spring/Summer ‘16 collection : Sarawak, a Borneo theme, with the anthropologist Tom Harrison at the centre of the story.   The spirit of the range lies in the adventurer.

Note the functional sensibilities that fashionistas have come to expect of Christopher Raeburn's innovative designs that work well with Clarks' attention to comfort such as the Extralight cleated soles and Cushion Plus technology with dual density cushioning.

For women, the Salek Sun as shown is the hero sandal which will feature on the catwalk at London Fashion Week this coming February. 

 Above, the Salek Sun.  Woven detailing and bold ankle straps combine with block heels using lightweight EVA to create a sandal that is modern and functional.  Note the combination of webbing and cork, and the unique clasp fastening.

Jungle Fern features a higher block heel and comes in buttersoft nubuck, an urban take on the jungle inspiration.

Jungle Trek takes an authentic trekking boot and gives it a contemporary spin with washed canvas panels and a cleated lightweight heel.

Sabah Trail is the trainer of the season.  Note the sleek athletic silhouette and military styling. It is available in black or sage, or with Raeburn's Borneo map print as shown above,
teaming with white leather.

Shoe and bag designers cite Portuguese tiles as inspiration

Istanbul.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Food, lifestyle and interiors are often beautifully entwined with fashion.  Often the link may not be initially obvious, but the association is realised very quickly. A recent promotional image of Cornwall-based celebrity chef Rick Stein is a case in point.  
It stirred not only fond memories but also culinary interest on my part and a longing sense of travel to hot exotic climes.  In a publicity photo, Stein (currently promoting his new travel-cum-cuisine book From Venice to Istanbul (BBC Books) that accompanies his new cookery TV programme of the same name)  is wearing a washed denim shirt and jeans against a backdrop of exotic wall tiles that one often associates with Mediterranean, South European and North African cultures.  

The association forms an alluring yet relaxed picture of well pulled-together styling. 
If you want to follow Rick Stein's gastronomic journey From Venice to Istanbul through countries of the former Byzantium empire, you can watch it on BBC2 this month on Fridays at 9:30 pm.  You can catch the programmes you've missed on-demand on iPlayer.

Portuguese ceeramic tiles.

In my visits, though limited, to a number of European, Mediterranean and North African destinations over the years, I have often admired the profusion of colour and creative designs on ceramic wall, pavement and floor tiles that demonstrate the unique patterns of each culture which in turn go on to influence modern designers.  

Attending the Pure London trade fair held a couple of weeks' ago at Kensington Olympia, I met two Portuguese designers who both talked passionately about inspiration from Portuguese tiles that formed the basis of their footwear and bag designs.

For one, Marita Moreno showcased her new Sculpture line of shoes and bags handcrafted in white linen and contrasting leather embossed with mosaic designs that can be defined as those of typical Portuguese pavement tiling, known as Calçada Portuguesa.  

According to lisbonlux.com, the Portuguese capital Lisbon's ubiquitous cobblestone designs were first introduced in the 18th century, during the rebuilding of the city after the 1755 earthquake. "The apparent inspiration was Roman mosaics, and it was an ingenious way to reuse the earthquake rubble. Lisbon was therefore covered in small limestone and basalt pieces, creating black and white patterns without the use of cement."

Marita Moreno, featured in the new Premium Footwear section at Pure London, designer of her own eponymous  brand uses Portuguese craft production component for her contemporary designs.

Marita Moreno's contemporary shoe designs are infused with Portuguese craftsmanship. 

Moreno's unique and distinctive ranges are produced in small quantities and she takes pride in using mainly natural materials in her designs, from wool and leather to cotton, silk and cork, all enhanced by Portuguese craftsmanship.
Another new Portuguese shoe brand is 7hills which features motifs taken from Portuguese ceramic tiles. The designs also feature influences from dancing shoes such as little ballerina bows and satin ribbons as shoe laces.

The brand's first capsule collection is called “Shall we dance?”, in leather of grey, pink and burgundy.  A couple of ballerina slippers even feature tulle netting at the back like a ballerina's tutu skirt.
All pictures by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Made in Italy CenCe Tak shoes introduced at SCOOP London

CenCe Tak which literally means “without heels” in Italian is a footwear brand that was recently introduced at the SCOOP International London fashion trade show held earlier this month concurrently at two venues - the Saatchi Gallery and Phillips.

On hand to explain the brand’s ethos were Nicoletta Dileno, Simona Dellutri & Tiziano Picogna (himself an haute couture tailor and designer).

What CenCe Tak does have is a unique story about its origin which is based on an ecological upcycling concept and hand-made tradition that produce these comfy unique and timeless footwear.

The shoes – for men, women and children – are 100% Made in Italy. They are made out of natural fabrics, and assembled only by sewing the pieces together without using glue, thanks to the 19^th century tradition of the Friulani craftsmen and craftswomen who still loyally preserve the technique and tradition. 

CenCeTak is offered a variety of “friulane” styles, in velvet, leather, silks, brocade, and recycled materials (such as canvas coffee sacks), and the designs can be customized with brooches or decorative feathers.

Traditionally the “Friulane” were hand-made using left over fabrics, old dresses or cut outs - referred to as “blecs” – and then the shoes were moulded into a design that has never changed throughout the years and is as modern today as it was in the 1800s.