2024 Newsletter

To my clients, subscribers and followers I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Healthy, Happy and prosperous New Year!

Bringing you up to date on what I have been working on and what has inspired me during the past year !

Last year I was excited to be asked to a meeting with John Galliano and his team at the Maison Margiela atelier at Place États Unis, Paris. John had become aware of my work through our mutual colleague, Doris Raymond of The Way We Wore. 

It was fascinating to spend some time discussing our shared love of craft and technique with a view to a collaboration on his Artisanal collection January 2024. Regretfully we agreed this would not be possible due to the reality of my authentic craft methods and consequent limited production capability and his need for around 70 pairs completed within an extremely short period of time. It was so flattering to be asked, but my clients come first. Definitely one to put down to experience though!

John has announced he is moving on from Margiela now.

I wonder where his next role will be? Fendi perhaps?

A feature of my work was recently included in “Craft Britain’ a book written by Helen Chislett (Helen Chislett Gallery) and David Linley.

I was also asked, along with others, to design and make a book cover that would be exhibited and subsequently auctioned in aid of The Prince’s Foundation.

A privilege to be involved!

Last year, Court Barn Museum in Chipping Campden (my home town) acquired a pair of my all time favourite shoes from my sample collection.

The shoes, named ‘Campaign’, were inspired by a quilt in the Folk collection at Compton Verney Art Gallery.

The acquisition was made possible in part by funding from the V&A.

Nazim Mustafaev is a world renowned shoe historian and owner of the largest private shoe museum in the world. Nazim owns three examples of my footwear and when he recognises my work I am honored knowing his comments come from a place of deep understanding. So when he wrote this to me having just received a pair of my boots, I was humbled :-

“Caroline, your work is absolutely original – you are inspired by many but do not copy anyone. Just like great designers do.

Thanks Caroline, I just cannot say how much I enjoy your work. The most important thing is that you not only design the models but you do it with your own hands. If I were to compare your shoes to anything I have in my collection, I would choose Epron d’Or or Yantorny.

This is why, when I see a new pair of your shoes – I can understand someone eager to own them, but to wear?! They should be adored, just like a piece of art. Thank you for supporting the idea that shoemaking can be a form of art, not just money making business.”

My wonderful client, Kim Manocherian, did me the huge honour of hosting a shoe themed evening at her Central Park West apartment during November. It was a very special evening and the first occasion on which a number of clients have grouped together, all wearing my shoes!

Kim has been the most consummate supporter of my work, a joy to work for, an educator and has challenged me to dig deeper, do better, set my sights higher!

Kim displayed her collection of my work built up over the past 15 years.

‘Pull overs’ is the term shoemakers use for a simple upper pulled over a sample last. It was a method originally used in order for travelling reps to be able to carry sample models out to prospective retail clients. It meant that only a single need be made, there was not the commitment of making completed shoes and design ideas could be responded to quickly.

I have recently found that this is a very useful method for me to adopt. As an individual maker with extremely limited production capability, this is a quick and cost effective way to present my ideas.

The red shoe here, was made in response to a request by Amy De La Haye to loan something for the exhibition at The Garden Museum ‘Fashioning the Rose’.

More recently, when my client KimManocherian offered to host a shoe theme event for me at her Central Park West, penthouse apartment, I needed to come up with samples in a hurry.

It proved to be a very effective way of showing ideas and techniques. A great talking point…