Shoe Stories
The Journey Continues
Although there’s so much unknown ahead of me, my thinking about the brand has evolved tremendously over the last several months. What I want the product to be, how I want to execute, and who I’m targeting has all come together –pieces of a puzzle falling into place.
Scenes From a Photoshoot
This week, I was behind the scenes at the first Bells & Becks photoshoot focused on bringing the product to life. It was a complex and eye-opening experience.
Here’s what I always knew, but was reminded of all over again this week:
- Laydown shoe photography is complex and takes time
- Lighting matters a lot
- Seeing the shoes on a foot makes a big difference
- It takes a team of talented individuals to create something beautiful
Shoe Samples At Thanksgiving- What a Difference a Year Makes
A box from Italy arrived at my doorstep, and I think about how far it traveled to get here and what the contents inside represent for me. I opened the box, and that familiar smell of leather streamed out. Some shoes are executing perfectly. They are exactly what I had envisioned in my mind. Others are not quite right, but I see the possibility and the wheels are turning in my brain.
Lessons Learned In a Shoe Factory
Here are the lessons I learned on this incredibly inspirational trip. Italian footwear is:
- Produced the slow way: methodically, by hand, and cannot be rushed
- A highly complex and technical craft that requires deep skill and knowhow
- A business built on a legacy of pride and passion passed from generation to generation
Shoe Packing for Milan
It was my first time attending the show, and I had no idea what to expect. I’d been to countless shoe shows in the US over the years as a professional buyer, but nothing in my career compared to what I experienced at MICAM.
Shoe Discovery Stories
I love shoes. I’ve always loved them. Starting at the age of four, my Grandmother used to take me shopping during my annual summer visits for a special pair of shoes as a send-off gift.
