Most women lust over the latest Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choos. They drool over Christian Louboutin's latest red-soled creations and sometimes steal away to the shoe department at Saks to try on a coveted pair. Some women are lucky enough to purchase such a luxury, and a chosen few have closets full of them. Blahnik, Choo and Louboutin are some of the superstars of shoe designing, so famous that they even take time out of their busy schedules to autograph their creations for eager fans. But what did they do to become such masters of their trade? And what does it takes to be a shoe designer?
The Beginning
As with many shoe designers, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin started out in the world of fashion. Both attended art school and started by designing both clothing and shoes. Shoe designers can also start out as cobblers and make their own piece of art, just as fledgling clothing designers sew their own designs at the beginning of their career. Although essentially anyone can be a shoe designer without formal art school education, knowing the basics will help a new career unfold.
Exploring the World
It is important for a shoe designer to stay abreast of current trends. While many designers (like Manolo Blahnik, for example) ignore trends completely and design only classic shoes, it is still important to know what is going on in the world of fashion. A classic line may sell well, but most shoe designers also produce a seasonal line of trendy wear. The designer must attend fashion shows the world over to stay in the know, typically setting foot on the catwalks of Paris, New York, Tokyo, London, Milan and Florence at least once a year.
Drafting and Drawing
A large part of a shoe designer's day involves drafting and drawing the shoes they want to see come to life. While many famous costume and clothing designers cannot draw, it is important that a shoe designer can communicate with his or her staff so the shoe will look like the design envisioned. An alternative to drafting with pencil and paper is the computer. There are many programs where the designer can input specific materials to make a virtual shoe that is ready for a team of cobblers to make.
Working Life
Some shoe designers work for others while some work for themselves. Having the title "Shoe Designer" doesn't necessarily mean the designer has complete freedom. Many work under more "senior" designers who tell them what to design to pass on to the team below them. It takes several designers to create shoes, but some of the biggest names, like Christian Louboutin, claim to personally decorate each shoe himself. Not everyone will end up like him, unfortunately. A typical designer starts out banking around $45,000 per year and the salary rises as one gains experience in the industry. There is no cap on how much one can make. It is possible to earn into the millions if a line sells well.
Business
As with many creative industries, being a successful shoe designer is only partly due to talent. To become self-sufficient, it is important to market designs in order to climb the ranks. It also helps to network and meet with investors who believe in the designer's work, so someday the designer can open her own boutique. Once that goal of a freestanding boutique is reached, having a good advertising team is essential for sales.
Higher (Heel) Education
Although a background in fashion is not necessary to become a shoe designer, it is certainly helpful. The following schools have programs in shoe design: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM, Los Angeles), Fashion Institute of Technology (New York City), Ars Sutoria (Milan, Italy), Cordwainers (London, UK), DeMontfort University (Leicester, UK), Polimoda (Florence, Italy) and London College of Fashion (London, UK). Happy studying.
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