PEOPLE, PLACES AND HAPPENINGS
WF FOOTPRINTS
6
half a century.
UK retailer Selfridges is marking the
milestone with a pop-up concession
in the famous Shoe Galleries in July
and August.
Showcasing some of Terry de
Havilland’s best pieces throughout
five decades, there were also four
limited edition styles produced
exclusively for Selfridges.
The designer said: “The styles I’ve
chosen represent highlights from my
archive, each holding a special
significance for me... I’m excited to
be able to update and show them off
to the world again.”
ROBERT CLERGERIE
APPOINTS NEW CREATIVE
DIRECTOR
Roland Mouret has been made the
creative director of French footwear
label Robert Clergerie in an attempt
to raise its fashion profile.
“To be the creative director of
Robert Clergerie is an incredible
opportunity,” said Mr Mouret. “For so
many people it’s such an important
brand and held in the highest
affection, as is Robert Clergerie
himself. This is a chance for me to
work with a master on the art and
craft of shoe design and to be part of
the special relationship that women
have with their shoes.”
The company’s founder is equally
pleased with Mr Mouret’s
appointment. “I’m delighted to see
Roland Mouret at the head of creation
at the Maison that I created,” said
Robert Clergerie. “It is a great symbol
to see such perspectives, with a talent
who already knows and loves our
company.”
CUBAN ARTIST DESIGNS
SHOES FOR GEEKS
A Cuban artist, Steven Rodrig, is
reported to have become so
concerned about components from
an old computer going into landfill
that he decided to make a pair of
shoes out of them.
Because he liked the design, the
artist went on to make a whole
collection of the computer-part
sandals, which he has called PCB
(printed circuit board).
Online craft store Etsy is stocking
the sandals.
CASTAÑER SAYS CREATIVITY
COMBATS “COPYING” RETAIL
High-end Spanish shoe designer
Isabel Castañer has said companies
like hers have to work extra hard to
be creative because of the speed with
which retail footwear chains copy
good ideas.
Catalonia-based Ms Castañer won
fame for making the traditional
Spanish rural work shoe, the
alpargata, into a fashion item. The
firm also produces shoes and boots in
high-quality leather and now makes
handbags and other leathergoods too.
She recently picked up a fashion
industry prize in Barcelona.
It now exports shoes to 35
countries and overseas clients
account for more than 80% of
revenue. Isabel Castañer said in a
recent interview in Spain that she
was conscious of a potential threat to
sales of the entry into the fashion
footwear market of large retail
chains, including Inditex (parent
group of Zara) and Mango.
“This could affect our sales,” she
said, “but it presents us with a
challenge too. We have to keep being
creative. These chains, as a general
rule, just copy.”
GARMONT APPOINTS NORTH
AMERICA PRESIDENT
Italian outdoor footwear brand
Garmont has appointed David Fee as
its president for North America. He
joins from Yakima Products, but
previously worked for automotive
company Ford.
An outdoor and sports enthusiast,
Mr Fee has competed in Ironman,
triathlon and cyclo-cross events.
“David’s skills the perfect match for
our future goals,” said Garmont
president, Achille Morlin, on making
the announcement.
INDITEX INVESTS IN
FOOTWEAR LOGISTICS
Spanish fashion group Inditex has
officially opened a new logistics centre
for its footwear operation, Tempe.
Based in the footwear
manufacturing hub of Elche, Tempe’s
role is to design and produce shoes
for Zara and several of the group’s
other fashion chains. Tempe has no
shops of its own, but was responsible
PUMA SIGNS STEVEN
PIENAAR
German sportswear apparel
company Puma has announced
that it has entered into a long-
term endorsement agreement with
Bafana Bafana skipper Steven
Pienaar.
The new deal will see Pienaar
wearing the new and
revolutionary Puma v1.11 football
boot, the latest and lightest
football boot Puma has ever
developed, from now until the
2015 African Cup of Nations.
“I am very happy to have signed
this deal with Puma,” said Pienaar.
He added: “Having been
involved in the South African
national team kit launch last
month I was seriously impressed
with Puma's commitment to
Africa; they have such a strong
heritage in African football and
their support for this continent is
unquestionable.
“Knowing all this, and having
tested the v1.11 which is a
fantastic boot, it was an easy
decision to sign with Puma and I
am pleased to have done so.”
Senior head of Global Sports
Marketing at Puma Christian Voigt
said: “Having recently announced
our long-term partnership with the
South African Football
Association, we were very keen to
bring Steven under contract. He is
an extremely talented and
hardworking player.”