Shoe Stoppers!

Rockin' Reptile

Shan Tan did her best to please her parents. They wanted her to work in finance. She compromised with a law degree and at 23, was at Gray's Inn, London. But while the Tans glowed with pride, the young barrister secretly wished for a very different career.

It became reality in October 2005 when Shan launched her label Rockin' Reptile. "A marriage of vintage Hollywood sophistication and style, with a modern rock diva edge and attitude," she explains.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes would do. They are made for fabulous parties and strutting on fashion runways or just having fun. Since its hit debut, Rockin' Reptile has become an international favourite and can be found in luxury department stores and boutiques in the UK, Ireland, Singapore and Germany, plus a flagship store in Malaysia.

Gold Coast-based Natalie Lomas is among the devotees of the hand-crafted, but affordable shoes created by a London design team and regularly featured in fashion glossies and on fashion TV.

"I'm a shoe addict and Rockin' Reptile is totally addictive," says Natalie, official Australian representative of the label she will present at the Australian Shoe Fair. Included will be the stunning new Studded Affair Collection.

Billie

Susannah Khouzame has no regrets about not practicing law after graduating with an LLB from the University of Western Sydney. The punishing working hours would have been tough on her private life. And she wouldn't have had Billie.

It's the name of her husband's niece. And it works perfectly for the edgy unisex footwear label that took off at a sprint when Susannah launched it in November 2007.

"I saw a gap in the market for casual, stylish footwear that wouldn't put a hole in your pocket," recalls the young entrepreneur who found inspiration in street and surfwear, and took 15 trips to China before she was satisfied with production for her first range.

Today, Billie and its offshoots, Billie Kids and Baby Billie, are stocked in some 300 outlets nationwide, distribution in New Zealand is currently being organised and Susannah has her sights trained on the US, UK and Europe.

"We're already selling internationally through our online store, but we hope to expand in those markets - and of course, there's Billini too."

That's the women's label Susannah recently introduced. It's devoted to chic footwear and bags, and grew out of in-house demand. "Billie is fantastic, but I love fashion and so does my staff," she says. "Bellini was the solution."

 

Flipsters

Hot product. Those two words get bandied about a lot, occasionally with justification. Flipsters qualify. Their launch last October won wide media coverage and the buzz continues.

Longtime Sydney friends Ben Lipschitz and Rick Munitz, both 25, are the whizkids behind Flipsters and their timing is perfect. What a stroke of genius to transform that Aussie icon, the flip flop, into a compact, comfortable fashion item just as stilettos made their big comeback.

Law graduate Ben hit on the idea when, after a painful night in high heels, his girlfriend wished out loud for a pair of flip flops that would fit into her evening bag. Industrial designer Rick took up the challenge. The result was Flipsters - fold-up flip flops that fit into a chic zippered pouch no bigger than a digital camera.

With their elastic heel supports and cushioned rubber soles, Flipsters live up to their catchline, "Guaranteed to save your sole". Fresh versions are in the offing.

"It's a very versatile product and Rick and I are looking at doing Flipsters in a range of new colours as well as a version for men," says Ben.

 

Belanci

The adjectives prompted by the first Belanci collection are definitely not "utilitarian" or "sensible". These are glamour shoes for girls who love to walk tall and flash their shapely pins.

"Think...Marilyn Monroe, or in more recent times, Carrie Bradshaw," suggests Belanci. Think, rather, Belinda Lui and Annie Xaypangna, the sharp young Sydney duo - 23 and 25 respectively - behind the label that will have its official launch at the Australian Shoe Fair.

Belanci was born in mid-2007 when the pair were having dinner at a Sydney restaurant and chatting about their mutual passion - shoes, of course. If only they could afford all those gorgeous labels, they sighed. Then the light went on: why not create an affordable high fashion shoe label?

"We identified that gap in the market and spent two years doing extensive research and development," says Belinda. "We wanted top craftsmanship and found it. All our shoes are handmade in quality leathers.

"I look after design, Annie is my business partner and Belanci is our baby. We're already planning ranges to go with our shoes. Clutches and jewellery will probably come next."

         

 

Wolverine and Keen

The Melbourne-based Life Industries Group prides itself on distributing outdoor lifestyle and comfort footwear of the highest quality. Its American brands Wolverine and Keen qualify with ease. Established in 1883, the iconic Wolverine is at the cutting edge with its innovative Individual Comfort System, while Keen offers the revolutionary sport sandal, complete with patented toe protection and technology that inhibits bacteria and fungi.

Skeanie

Natasha Barber wanted the best in footwear for her first-born. It proved to be a challenge, so the Goulburn-based former IT professional - now the proud mum of Hamish, four and Bella, two - did lengthy research. The upshot was her highly popular children's label, Skeanie. Along with cool design and finest soft leathers, the delightful ranges come with the endorsement of the Australian Podiatry Association of NSW.


Red Bootie

Cristina Maglio hates grown-up heels for little girls. "Children need practicality and comfort," the Melburnian behind Red Bootie says firmly. The sensible approach doesn't preclude sharp fashion. For next Spring Summer, the label for infants to pre-teens offers delights ranging from canvas casuals in floral prints and checks, to dressy leather sandals in silver and bronze. All come with arch support and cushioned rubber soles.


Cushla Reed - Minx

The elegant tie-dyed shoes in softest suedes are a treat. So are the jaunty lace-ups, the new sculptured wedge heels and embellishments ranging from native paua (abalone) shell to detachable shoe clips.

"I've called my new season range New Zealand Summer by the Sea," says Cushla Reed, the acclaimed designer at the forefront of fashion footwear in New Zealand.

Almost a decade has passed since Cushla and her sister, Angela Buswell, launched their label Minx at a high-profile bash that was given the works by ad agency giant Saatchi & Saatchi. By then, the siblings were shoe industry veterans.

"Our stepfather, Collin Craigie, had a women's footwear factory in Waikanae and Angela and I used to clean it after school and hand-mark the leathers," recalls Cushla. "It inspired Ange to do a footwear design course in the UK and she lived abroad for three years.

"I also went overseas, but that only lasted nine months, then I came home and ended up being a cable TV presenter."

In 1998, the sisters' stepfather became seriously ill and they took charge of the factory. They ended up buying it and in 2000, Minx was born. The label synonymous with dazzling inventiveness and colour has since chalked up three shoe design world firsts - for incorporating paua, the skins of New Zealand's moki fish and a new wool fibre.

"I'm re-launching the paua shells for Spring-Summer 2010/11. It's through popular demand. Women adore them," says Cushla. She now runs Minx, while Angela looks after the company's three signature stores in New Zealand.

 

 


Natalie and Christina Mainwaring - Nat-Sui

Natalie Mainwaring's fashion boutique clients get service-plus. "They can mix and match our shoes with their other ranges because we have an extensive chart of leathers they can choose from," says the founder of Brisbane-based glamour label Nat-Sui.

And what leathers! Along with the classics, there's exotica such as natural water snake, croc and fish skins, and dazzling embellishments from semi-precious stones to Swarovski crystals.

Not surprisingly, the fashion glossies and celebs - among them, Sophie Monk, Tara Moss, Marcia Hines and Delta Goodrem - love the shoe label that was founded by Natalie in Noosa Heads in 2000 and now has around 100 outlets nationwide, including Nat-Sui's flagship store in Fortitude Valley.

"We plan to also open a store in Sydney in August 2010," reveals Natalie. Assisting the mother of four is 24-year-old daughter Christine who looks after wholesaling and is currently studying for a degree in journalism.

Both women are part of the Nat-Sui design team that caters to a wide range of ages and tastes. For Spring-Summer 2010/11 there will be loads of colour, plus neutrals and metallics, and plenty of flats as well as flashy heels. Nat-Sui will also present a trans-seasonal collection at the Australian Shoe Fair.

 


Andrea and Joen Tan - Andrea & Joen

Andrea Tan used to design clothes and had her own label, Ninety-Six. Her younger sister Joen is a graphic designer and former creative director with a leading international ad agency.

In 2002, the Malaysian-born, Sydney-raised siblings combined their skills to create their shoe label, Andrea & Joen. Today, it's a favourite with celebrities including Delta Goodrem, Gwen Stefani and Pink, and has featured in catwalk collaborations at Australian Fashion Week with leading designers Jayson Brunsdon, Bettina Liano and Marnie Skillings.

"We're now stocked Australia-wide and have just started selling in the US - mainly New York and Los Angeles," says Andrea. "It's quite a coup because the American market is fiercely competitive and you only ever get one chance."

Since the recent introduction of their Australian beach/ resort-inspired diffusion label SUNDAY Andrea & Joen, the Redfern-based sisters have won devotees of all ages - "mums and their daughters" - while their signature label continues to make bold fashion statements.

For Spring-Summer 2010/11, Andrea and Joen have concentrated on textures and colour panelling. "It will include patent leathers in pop colours - that real wow factor," says Andrea.

See Andrew & Joen on stand 5260

 

Enth

A palette of red, silver, beige, white and black. Finest quality sheepskin leather. Elegance combined with playful sophistication. Typically, Sydney's Trina Hoy has deliberated to the "enth" degree for her new season collection of flats, ballet slippers and moccasins. The NIDA graduate who created sets and props for film and TV before launching her label in 2006, carries her themes through to jewellery and handbags.

See Enth on stand 4948

 

Jeanette Stuchbery - Ettie Zing

For years, Jeanette Stuchbery was in hot demand for special occasion clothes for family and friends. Wedding gowns, glamour wear for 21st birthdays and other milestones - she designed and sewed them all at her Mt Gambier home.

That led to an after-five boutique, but the big venture came after her husband was posted to Hong Kong in 2002. He worked in finance. She could have easily been a lady of leisure.

"No way," says Jeanette. "I thought: I'm in the heart of this dynamic city; time to do something really exciting." Shoes were the shot, she decided. And so Ettie Zing was born.

"Ettie was my pet name as a child and I love words that start with Z," says the now Sydney-based based designer who created her first collection with the help of a skilled Hong Kong shoemaker and now sells across Australia and New Zealand, as well as to Sweden where she has a celebrity client.

"It's not easy to establish a shoe label," Jeanette observes. "Start-up capital and distribution aside, you need your own lasts and have to get sizing right. Fortunately, I'm a perfect Size 37."

Soft romantic pastels and neutrals dominate Ettie Zing for Spring-Summer 2010/11. Matte and patent leathers are combined, heels include bleached wood tones and as usual, there will be some real zingers.

"I've used lace for some of my styles, done an open summer boot and will have one electric colour - probably hot pink," says Jeanette.

See Ettie Zing on stand 5334
 

Sapato Imports

Sapato means "shoe" in Portuguese - fitting for the long-established family-owned Sydney firm which sources many of its collections from Brazil. Europe and Asia are also strongly represented in the women's ranges that will feature key new season trends including hi-tech leather treatments and vibrant colours. Most exciting, Sapato Imports will unveil three exclusive international labels - all new to Australia.

See Sapato Imports on stand 5454