Focus on: Dune Shoes at Very.co.uk

Throughout my endless web wanderings, I found an interesting and promising shoe brand which I've been dying to share with you. They're called Dune and I've found a great selection at Very.co.uk, an online store which sells everything from clothes to electronics. 

Dune is a shoe brand launched in 1992 by Daniel Rubin who comes from a family with a strong tradition in the shoe business: "his father owned a ladies fashion shoe factory , his grandfather arrived in London from Lithuania at the end of the 19th century and opened a small shoe factory and his great grandfather was a cobbler in the back streets of Vilnius". Talk about family traditions!

Their products can be bought in the UK stores, through their website and through online stores like Very.co.uk.

The Dune shoes selection that Very.co.uk carries is very wide. They have them in different styles - wedges, stilettos, flats, platforms or kitten heels. Therefore, there's something in there for all of us.  Also, they have various shoe styles suitable for different occasions, different seasons, so everybody can find what they're looking for.

Here's my favourite picks:

 Jerica Platform Shoe Boots in brown featuring a lace-up style. They're not only very feminine, but also versatile and practical thanks to the laces. The colour is also a big plus since they're not as basic/plain as black, but not too daring either. They would be perfect for work or for more official meetings.

 

Jiant Chandelier Heel pumps are more on the creative side and feature a stiletto heel with a chandelier like base. They come in black and light brown patent leather and would suit for a night out, for a festive evening, for a celebration and, why not, a fancy event.

 

 

The Jag real suede bow back sandals are an urban take on lady-like shoes. The net piece is very fresh and brings attitude to the shoe. All in all, a great combination for a modern young lady who cherishes both femininity and a strong message. 

The Peep Toe pumps come in two different colours: gold and fuchsia. The colour is great, they can bring a dash of colour and optmism to any plain outfit. Also, the fact that they're not that tall makes them suitable for every day use, without hurting your feet.

 The Sullivan Over-the-knee boots are a classic take on the style, with clean simple lines, a back zipper and a staple to complete the look. Useless to say that they are literally meant for every day use. 

Unfortunately, Very.co.uk ships only within the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. However, if you have friends there you might be able to arrange something. Or, in some more fortunate situations, I hope you'll find the store while travelling in the UK.

What do you think about this brand? Which ones are your favourites?

photo source: www.very.co.uk

Focus on: Hunter

Rubber boots, or most commonly known as wellington boots, are all the rage right now. There are those who hate them because they say they're inaesthetic and rather suitable for country side (but then again, so are UGG boots). But there are also those who appreciate them for delivering comfort and for their practicability, managing somehow to still be fashionable and modern.   

Hunter is one of the most famous companies that produces these wonder boots. You can see them on every celebrities' feet, they benefit of royal support and they have a tremenduos tradition behind them. Let's explore that!

The Hunter boots company was founded by an American antrepreneur named Henry Lee Norris in 1856 when he moved to Scotland, looking for a place to start his rubber boots factory. After a rather difficult beginning (only 4 people worked for him initially) they reached a balance point in 1875 when the factory had 600 employees. 

But real success came with the unfortunate First World War, when the factory was asked by the army to produce rubber boots who were suitable for protecting soldiers in the muddy trenches. Just so you get an idea, about 1,5 million boots were produced at that time for the army. The Second World War expanded the companies production and 80% of it was war supplies: tents, seat belts, gas masks ecc.

Some of the most famous Hunter boots, that are still popular today, were launched in 1955: the original Green Wellington Original and the Royal Hunter. 

In 1977 the company became an authorised supplier of the Royal Court. Hunter was offered a royal contract by the Edinburgh Duke and in 1986 the Queen herself offered royal guarantee for the products Hunter produced. This is when the company reached the tip of the iceberg and became ultra-popular.

Ever since then, the company has strived to offer not only really reliable products staying true to the quality that made them famous to begin with, but also fashionable footwear. And to master fashion too, they teamed up with Jimmy Choo in 2009 who designed for them a croc-print fashionable boot. 

 

Hunter boots are no longer just rubber boots. Their efforts have paid off and it's no suprise now that we can see them on catwalks, used by fashion designers to deliver the message of their collection. We have witnessed this here in Romania too, at the Avanpremiere Gala when Bianca Popp used them for her collection.

 

The prices are really accessible and you can find them on most of the online shops. I have made a selection just so you know where to find your favourite Hunter boot and what are the prices.

Net-a-porter has included some Hunter boots in their Sales. They are all gorgeous and the prices are appealing, but you have to be lucky enough to find your size. My picks:

 

 Festival Short Wellington boots at 95 EUR

 Original Lace Wellington boots at 52 EUR

 

Asos has a wide selection of Hunter boots that you can see here. My picks:

 

 Hunter Original Gloss Wellington Boots at 83.33 EUR

Hunter Original Wellington Boot at 79.48 EUR

 

 You could also buy these boots on the company's website where you can find ALL the beautiful variations and designs. However, I wouldn't recommend it unless you can't find the one you want on any other online store. This is because the shipping taxes are huge - for Romania they add £48.00 to your bill. But these tourquoise gloss boots are absolutely adorable, my ultimate favourites!

 

I have recently came across a Romanian online seller who has a decent selection. You can find them here. My picks:

 

 Regent Savoy at 590.00 lei

 Original Tall Metallic at 360.00 lei

 Limited Edition Festival Short at 640.00 lei

 

Regent at 435.00 lei

 

Hampstead Tall at 590.00 lei

They also sell (just like all the other online shops) the fun socks you can use to brighten up your wellies or in winter time, for keeping your feet warm and fashionable at the same time.

Do you like wellington rubber boots and Hunter in particular? Which one is your favourite?

photo source: net-a-porter.com, asos.com, hunter-boot.com, wellies.ro

"I don’t feel that I, as a person, made a name of myself, but the shoes that I create." - descovering Mihaela Glavan

 Mihaela Glavan is one of the most popular and creative Romanian accessory designer. She has joined the industry in 2003 at the age of 24, when she created and sold only 5 pairs of boots in a closed-circuit store. With the money gained from this first attempt, Mihaela bought materials which she used for her next collection. 

She started designing shoes when she was looking for some for herself and discovered that the market did not offer much. She began with bride shoes and in 2006 she launched the first Sepala collection, the "shoes with attitude". The Mihaela Glavan line was launched in 2008 and it represents the more artistical brand, which often includes collaborations with other designers, Romanian or foreign. Time passed by, the business became stronger and in 2009 she launched the first Sepala store. In 2010, the designer has launched the online shopping facility. Another year, another progress!

Constantly evolving, Mihaela Glavan has found the perfect way to create amazing accessories, keep customers satisfied, collaborate with almost every important name in the fashion industry and keep true to herself. Down to earth, she is a family persons like few that I have met.
 

I personally discovered Mihaela's work in 2006, when I started college and when my passion for shoes started. I find it amazing that she has managed to keep her name in the industry, altough we have had such an increasing amount of young shoe designers in the past years. You can immagine why she was my first choice when I decided to start the interview series. Let's meet Mihaela!

The Shoe Dictionary: You graduated the Faculty of International Economic Relations and became one of the most imporant Romanian shoe designers. How did these two parts of you come together?

Mihaela Glavan: The Economical Faculty hepled me to better understand this business and get the correct image of what it means and how it works. Then, creativity added the rest and made people like you say things like these about me.

TSD: Was it difficult to join this area of fashion: did you come across obstacles or negative opinions? How did you manage to overcome them and, most of all, how did you manage to make yourself known as a brilliant shoe designer?

MG: It wasn’t an easy decision, but I began this journey driven by passion and a little bit of madness. I met wonderful people and, honestly, luck was on my side too. I don’t feel that I , as a person, made a name of myself, but the shoes that I create.

 Mihaela and Kristina Dragomir (hat designer)

 Mihaela and Gianina Corondan

 Mihaela and Catalin Botezatu

 Mihaela and Corina Vladescu

TSD: What does it mean being a Romanian young designer and, most of all, how difficult is it to obtain this status?

MG: It takes creativity, passion and consistency. The selection is made by the market,  though atypical and in a formation process as it right now.

TSD: How do you feel about the overflood of people/workshops/stores creating custom made shoes that we have been experiencing over the past years? Do they bring something new to the industry or is it just a fashionable trend which will wear off eventually?

MG: I’m glad to see that we have more accessory designers every day. It’s a good sign. This reflects the fact that the number of people wanting and buying one of a kind, custom made creations is growing. But as I said before, it’s up to every shoe designer to do what it takes in order to become more than a “fashionable trend”.

TSD: Is there a school (in a programmatic way), a tradition in shoe design here in Romania?

MG: Unfortunately, no.

TSD: Did you notice or come across rivalries and friendly connections in this “industry”? How did the Romanian fashion world treat you?

MG: Hahahaha. You can find vanity, more or less justified, in any area, not only fashion. I would rather say that friendly collaborations have been settled with few production brands or shoe designers from Bucharest and all over the country.

Mood Board:

Inspiration: architectural details, gestures, movies, exhibitions, places I visit

The most treasured shoe collection: fall winter 2009-2010, which was inspired by the Bucharest in between the two world wars

Greatest outcome: professionally speaking, Sepala

Favourite shoe designer: Pierre Hardy

A fashion icon: Twiggy

The first high heel pair of shoes: around tenth grade in highschool (about 17 years)

TSD:  You created two brands: Sepala – the more basic and “tamed” line – and Mihaela Glavan – the more artistical line. Did you decide this because you felt that the Romanian public is not  ready to wear more arty shoes? Is Sepala the commercial compromise to sustain the Mihaela Glavan brand?

MG: The Sepala shoes keep the touch of the Mihaela Glavan collections, they have intricate detailing and special cuts, but they are more accessible as far as price is concerned. This is certainly not a compromise! It is about different targets. And as far as I am concerned, I work with the same amount of pleasure and passion for both of them.

TSD: Throughout  the years, you collaborated with several famous Romanian designers. Tell us about these collaborations and mostly about the TouchedBy project. How did you come up with it?

MG: TouchedBy is a dear project to me, an idea that came from the desire to create mini accessory collections together with the dear people surrounding me, designers or public figures with an acute artistical sense. The design of these collections belongs entirely to the guest designer and the technical consultancy and production are provided by the Sepala workshop. The pieces are then available for purchase in our store located in 9 Franklin street for about a month after the launch.

We started the TouchedBy series in 2009 with the cretions of Ana Alexe. We then collaborated with Lena Criveanu, George Neagu, Ovidiu Buta, Stephan Pelger, Catalin Botezatu, Irina Marinescu, Adelina Ivan and Carmen Secareanu.

 TouchedBy Adelina Ivan

 TouchedBy Ana Alexe

 TouchedBy Catalin Botezatu

TouchedBy Carmen Secareanu

 TouchedBy Irina Marinescu

 TouchedBy Lena Criveanu

 TouchedBy Ovidiu Buta

 TouchedBy Ovidiu Buta

 TouchedBy Stephan Pelger

TSD:  What can you tell us about the representative profile of the Sepala/Mihaela Glavan customer?

MG: Educated and creative in style and fashion terms, he/she appreciates  both design and comfort in a shoe.

TSD: What do you think about online shopping and online stores? A few months ago you launched the online store on www.sepala.ro. How did you decide to enter this business too?

MG: There are more people every day choosing to buy things online. The main reasons are, of course, time and comodity. We launched the online store on www.sepala.ro in August 2010, the customers from outside the capital are very excited and thankful for this store. They can access the latest Sepala and RSM collections and not only, because the online shop has a special but continuous section of Sales.

TSD: Tell us a little something about the fall winter 2010-2011 colletion. What exactly did inspire you, what fabrics did you use?

MG: This year, for the fall/winter collections of Sepala and RSM we decided to approach things a little differently. For both men and women shoes I added some punk-rock influences. I have always liked combining fabrics, textures and develop new patterns.

TSD: What are the future plans and surprises that you have planned for us from Sepala and Mihaela Glavan?

MG: In spring 2011, we will be launching Sepala Kids, the brand for children’s shoes. As for surprises, there will be plenty and lovely ones, you just wait and see!

Workshop Details: 

When it was opened: september 2003

Location: Carol Park area

How many persons are working there: 20

How many shoes are being made there, monthly: about 500

The store and the showroom

 Spring Summer 2010

 fall winter 2009-2010

 spring summer 2010

 spring summer 2010 (fashion show)

 fall winter 2010-2011

Fall Winter 2009-2010

You can find more photos here. 

So, dear reader, what do you think? What's your favourite part about her work, about this interview? What's your favourite collaboration? 

P.S. I'm open to suggestions, if you want to know more about a shoe designer, share and I'll do my best :-)

photo source: Mihaela's Facebook page, acasa.ro, viva.ro, hipmag.ro, fashion-affinity.ro, 121.ro

Anastasia Radevich - "Taking from my mind all what I have seen, looking for what has never been…"

I get easily obsessed about shoe designers and shoes, in general. I love them or I hate them with an ease that only passion can give. When Ioana from Fashezine introduced me to the shoes I am about to show you, I was abosultely blown away: I have never seen such shoes, such creativity, such originality. Therefore, thank you, Ioana, for introducing me to the most amazing shoes ever!

Anastasia Radevich is a Canadian footwear designer of Belarusian origin. She lives and works on both continents. Sponsored by Foundation de la Mode de Montréal, Anastasia has completed a diploma with distinction at London College of Fashion in footwear design- one of the world's leading colleges for footwear design that has been the ground for learning to such names as Jimmy Choo, Patrick Cox and Georgina Goodman.

Her first hand-finished collection ‘Biofuture’ has been exhibited at the LCF gallery on Carnaby street in June 2009.
Anastasia has been selected by art-s-talker to be featured in the "e-Creative: London 2009" directory for London's best emerging creative talents that was launched at the London Design Festival in September 2009.
She has extensive experience in footwear and accessories design: she has previously worked at Aldo Group for 2 years in Montreal, designed for Bolongaro Trevor (the founders of All Saints), as well as gained work experience at Alexander McQueen and Nicholas Kirkwood.

Anastasia's moto is "Taking from my mind all what I have seen, looking for what has never been…". What better words to describe her out-of-this-world work? She is one of those genius designers the world meets once in a while. I am sure that she will be so big that students will want to study footwear design to become like her.

 

Her Biofuture 2010 collection is beyond amazing. I have never thought this is possible, that shoes like this could be real. Inspired from nature, the shoes mix suede, fur, patent leather with cage chunky heels or heels in the shape of a claw. The shoes are very feminine in a natural way, but urban at the same time. The cage heels make me think of steel skyscrapers or of mettalic scaffoldings. The turqoise suede algae inspired sandals are so gentle and leave me the impression that they are made of real algae that they just make me miss the sea.

Anastasia has decided to share with her fans some pages of her inspiration/work notebooks. These pages themselves are pieces of art that translate the passion this designer has, her amazing artistic nature and, most of all, her commitment to transforming everyday inspiration into pure art.

I have saved the best for last. The Kinetik 2011 collections is her best, so far. It features elements that I have literally never seen before in another shoe: platform and heels made of some type of very attentively melted  and molded metal.
As pumps, ankle boots or sandals, these shoes are made of suede, patent leather and what seems to be a mix of lace and leather. The suede ankle boots feature an amazing futuristic technology: they have mesh inserts with leds that creat an original accessory to the shoe and give personality, without making it cold, impersonal or too technologic. Actually, they speak of frailty, femininity, smoothness and sensibility. They are the perfect metaphore of the modern woman.

 

Anastasia is currently travelling for work and she isn't available for interviews or extensive discussions. However, she has promissed me that once she settles down, I will get to ask every question I have about her work, her inspiration and everything my mind will come up until then. So around Christmas, expect an extensive article on the creator of these pieces of art, Anastasia Radevich!


photo source:  Anastasia Radevich, Luxirare.com