Jimmy Choo launch ICONS capsule collection & The Jimmy Choo Foundation

Jimmy Choo has announced the launch of ICONS, a capsule collection of shoes inspired by the most significant creations from the company’s archives. In conjunction with this collection launch on 20 October, the company also announces the creation of The Jimmy Choo Foundation, a charitable trust that will be chaired by Jimmy Choo Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Tamara Mellon OBE. A commemorative coffee table book, entitled JIMMY CHOO XV, highlights these 15 archival shoes and anthologises their creation through design sketches, editorial imagery, paparazzi shots and house photography. The release of the ICONS collection and the JIMMY CHOO XV are a part of the year-long celebration of the brand’s 15th Anniversary.

Among the fifteen selected designs is the famous ‘Feather’ worn by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City. Also included is ‘Carly’ a zebra print boot created to commemorate the brand’s entry to the US. The ‘Macy’ style worn most recently on actress Natalie Portman is also included in the collection, as is ‘Fleur,’ a pointy-toe stiletto pump worn by Tamara Mellon when she was awarded the Order of the British Empire by the Queen. Of these 15 archival shoes, 10 styles have been reinterpreted as new classics as the ICONS Collection.

www.jimmychoo.com

Terry de Havilland debuts e-commerce site & marks 50th Anniversary

Designer footwear brand Terry De Havilland has announced the launch of a new e-commerce site this year, offering customers the opportunity to buy direct from Terry de Havilland, as well as preview bespoke designs created by Terry de Havilland Couture.

The brand is also set to take production and sales in-house as the brand marks its 50th Anniversary. As part of a strategic move to ready the business for new initiatives, the company will now control all elements in-house. One new initiative will be creating a bespoke pop-up concession in Selfridges London to mark the anniversary, which will run from 15 July for one month (See DIARY dates). The space will include a retrospective of Terry’s work throughout his five decades in business. In addition to commissioning four limited edition exclusive styles, Selfridges will also be stocking the AW11 collection.

French shoemaker Pierre Corthay launches in UK

Shoemaker Pierre Corthay has entered the British market this week with Harrods as its first UK stockist. The 21 year old label, already available around the world in New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore, will present its 'Made In Paris' collection in the renovated and extended Harrods men’s shoe department.

The two latest creations by Pierre Corthay are Ketch and Yawl (pictured here), where he draws inspiration from the world of sailing. The model Ketch, with its curved line and straight tip, has an English style. Pierre has adopted a traditional glove stitching technique in adding tangerine coloured seams. This style is available in chocolate toned suede. The Yawl is a versatile loafer with a long, supple tongue that evokes the sails on the two-mast yacht that gives the style its name. The model comes complete with a crafted hand sewn apron in two glazed tones of black and old-wood. Prices for the collection are available on application. For more information please

www.corthay.fr

Clarks Originals partner with Thistle & Broom for limited edition desert boot

Clarks Originals has collaborated with Thistle & Broom, the Scottish brand known for its fair trade Fair Isle knits to produce a limited edition Desert Boot. Taking Clarks Originals Desert Boot, the style features a hand-knit shoe cuff from Thistle & Broom of yarns traditionally used in Aran jumpers.



A total of 1,200 pairs of the very special Desert Boots will be available. Each pair has been created by one of the 35 hand knitters that live across Scotland. The Clarks Originals sand suede 62 year old Desert Boot blends with the natural cream Aran yarn, sourced from Ardalanish Farms and Weavers on the Isle of Mull. The new limited edition Desert Boot will be available from Clarks Originals stores and the website from September priced at £149.00.

www.clarksoriginals.com

Havaianas to open first London store this week

Havaianas is opening its first UK store tomorrow (10 May). The new stand-alone will be located at Kingly Court, just behind Carnaby Street, London W1.

As well as featuring a range of flip-flops, high tops, sneakers and espadrilles, the new store will house the 'Make Your Own' concept booth which allows customers to design their own flip-flops and see the design made in-store. The new Havaianas Wellies will also be available from the Kingly Street store when they launch later in the year.

Pretty Ballerinas collaborates with fashion blogger Susie Lau

Footwear brand Pretty Ballerinas has collaborated with fashion blogger Susie Lau. The campaign sees Susie Lau celebrating London, complemented by a backdrop of landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and the streets of Soho. A branded pink mini perfectly captures the playful mood of the new collection.

The new Pretty Ballerinas collection incorporates bold graphics, animal prints, patent leather and fluorescent hues (modelled by Susie Lau), all in unique designs. The collection also sees the injection of Swarovski crystal encrusted ballet shoes.

Pretty Ballerinas launched its online boutique in 2005 and now has stores in Mayfair and Belgravia and Covent Garden. Prices range from £99.00 to £300.00 and are also available online from www.prettyballerinas.com.

Amanda Holden announced as the face of leg toning footwear range

Fitness footwear brand TrimSole has announced Amanda Holden as the face of its leg toning footwear. TrimSole has a Trim-Tech sole to shift the centre of balance to make the legs work harder without noticing. The SS11 campaign is a spoof on iconic Hollywood images and the collection focuses on a classic sandal shape in an array of colourways including leopard prints and animal prints. Priced from £24.95, they are available exclusively available at www.trimsole.com.

FitFlop launches new sandal in support of AIDS charity

FitFlop is launching the Manyano thong sandal, crafted in natural leather with FitFlop’s Microwobbleboard midsole built in. The uppers have been hand-beaded by the women of the Wola Nani cooperative in Cape Town, South Africa. FitFlop will be donating 100% of its net profit from the sales of the Manyano sandal back to the Wola Nani organisation. Wola Nani was established in 1994 as a non-profit organisation to help bring relief to the communities hit hardest by the HIV crisis in South Africa’s Western Cape. The Manyano thong sandal is priced at £95.00, in sizes 3 to 8, and will be available exclusively on NET-A-PORTER.COM from 20 April.

Alexa Chung the new face of Superga for centennial anniversary

Superga has announced Alexa Chung as the face of the new campaign. Alexa teamed up with Superga for a new shoot featuring the 2750 style and other pieces from the range for the brand’s 100-year celebration.

Simon Bamber, CEO of GLinvest who owns the rights for the brand in the UK, said: “We are really excited to have Alexa be part of our story, especially for the centennial year anniversary. She is one of the most influential style icons of our time and a huge Superga fan. I think her effortless style and personality suits our collection and brand so well.”

etnies to launch first stand-alone store in Europe

Manufacturer and retailer of action sports footwear and apparel, etnies has announced it will open its first stand-alone retail store this month in Kingston Upon Thames. Launching on 31 March, etnies will house the biggest collection of etnies footwear and apparel in Europe. To celebrate etnies is giving away free goody bags to customers on the launch day.
www.etnies.com

New shoe and accessories store The Box Boutique launching this month

The Box Boutique, a new shoe and accessories store, is to open this month in Mayfair. The interior features neon colour pops, eccentric British fixtures, and neo-baroque touches combine to create a unique shopping environment.

The Box Boutique showcases a display of shoes and accessories from established shoe brands including Beatrix Ong and Pollini, avant-garde designers Raphael Young and Ruthie Davies and British labels Mechante and Aruna Seth. Alongside the collection of shoes, there will be a selection of complimentary accessories brands such as A Morir studded sunglasses, and shoe chains and headbands from Litter. The new store will be unveiled with an exclusive launch party for VIPs and press (see DIARYdates).

Converse collaborates with Marimekko on new collection

Converse has partnered with Finnish design house Marimekko to debut a new women’s specific collection for spring 2011 that combines Converse’s silhouettes with the brand’s signature prints. Marimekko designs are available in the Chuck Taylor All Star High and Ox, Jack Purcell Helen and a brand-new silhouette, the Chuck Taylor All Star PJ.

Founded in 1951, Marimekko is known for bold colors and prints and its influence in the world of fashion, design and art. The Marimekko patterns featured in the collection are 'Tarha' from 1963 and 'Pikkusuomu' from 1965 by Annika Rimala and 'Kirppu' from 1980 by Maija and Kristina Isola. Annika Rimala’s modern and original Marimekko designs featured on covers of international fashion magazines as early as in the 1960’s. Maija Isola, forerunner in the design of printed fabrics, designed over 500 fabric prints for Marimekko throughout her career – one of them being Kirppu, co-designed with her daughter Kristina Isola.

With a retail price of £50.00 to £55.00, the Converse Marimekko collection will be available from Offspring nationwide later this month.

Italian footwear brand Arfango to open debut London store

Arfango, the luxury heritage Florentine shoe and accessories brand, will open its first UK stand-alone on Walton Street, London SW3, on 7 February. This will be Arfango's second store, the first having opened in Saint Tropez in 2009. Styles available include the 'Velvet Shoe', a silk velvet, hand-stitched moccasin, in a colour palette that includes fire-engine-red, royal blue, purple and lavender, as well as chocolate brown, gun-metal grey and black. Women’s collections include velvet pumps, boots and stilettos for day and heeled sandals for evening. Eelskin, patent leather, ponyskin, dappled leather, brushed calf and laminated python are decorated with silk detailing in bold colours: mauve, red, turquoise, fuchsia and black. The label has become popular with celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Rachel Blanchard, Morgan Freeman, Adrien Brody, Ryan Gosling and the American R&B and soul artist, Eric Benet.

Clarks Originals launches new campaign and opens pop-up store

Clarks Originals is launching a brand campaign and pop-up store to celebrate the launch of SS11. Clarks Originals will take over the Clarks store in Piccadilly, London from 7–20 February, to create a floor dedicated to the brand. The pop-up store will also unveil the global SS11 campaign that includes Cara Delevingne and Josh Beech. The SS11 range will be available to buy in-store including limited edition collaborations; Millerain for men, Laura Ashley for women as well as classic men’s and women’s styles including the Desert boot, Wallabee, Natalie and Lugger in limited edition colours and fabrics.

Pretty Ballerinas opens Covent Garden store next month

Pretty Ballerinas is opening a flagship store in Covent Garden next month. The brand has signature colours of Pink, black and gold which are combined with the rainbow spectrum of colours to characterise the SS11 ballet pump collection. The brand, which specialises in ballet pumps and flats, launched its online boutique in 2005 and following this opened stores in the UK in Mayfair and Belgravia and now Covent Garden. Prices range from £99.00 to £300.00 and styles are also available online from www.prettyballerinas.com. The new store opens on 15 February in St Martin’s Courtyard, Covent Garden.

H&M partners with shoe label Swedish Hasbeens

This Spring H&M is working with the cult shoe label Swedish Hasbeens. Available from 20 April in around 150 stores worldwide, the three styles of wooden-soled clogs made exclusively for H&M are inspired by the traditional Swedish styles of the seventies.

Swedish Hasbeens has created three wooden-soled styles for H&M: a gladiator style strappy wedge with three buckle ankle straps and a progression of straps going over the foot, available in three colours, cream and tan; the heeled summer sandal with one ankle strap, which comes in cream and red on a pale wooden base; and finally a peep-toe slip-on wedge on a wooden sole, with snake-effect leather laced on top.The shoes are available in sizes 36-40 and from £34.99 to £39.99 and are exclusive to H&M.

Hunter partners with designer Jonathan Kelsey for luxury footwear collection

For AW11 Hunter is introducing a new luxury leather footwear collection in partnership with young designer Jonathan Kelsey. The collection of twenty handcrafted men's and women's leather designs include modern biker boot styles such as the Callow and ballerinas like the Ladbroke (both pictured above). The new Hunter leather collection will be priced from around £175.00 to £350.00 and will be sold through selected Hunter stockists nationwide from August 2011.

Brazilian brand Havaianas to launch first wellie range from April

Brazilian lifestyle brand Havaianas has just announced the launch of its first wellie collection. Exclusive to the UK from April, these vibrant styles will launch in eight colour patterns including bold neons, which are available for both men and women. The collection will launch exclusively in Selfridges shoe gallery in April and then Office will launch the collection in May and have exclusivity for the rest of the high street until mid July. The boot design is exclusive for Havaianas, made from 85% Rubber and 15% synthetic lining including the rice patterned sole, the greek and brick sole of the boot. Prices range from £45.00 for plain Havaianas to £50.00 for the printed ones.

Fashion Fringe and label Roger Vivier collaborate to find and support emerging designers

Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden has today announced Roger Vivier as its partner for the 2011 Accessories platform with the aim to find and support emerging creative accessories designers. Chaired by Roger Vivier’s Artistic Director, Bruno Frisoni (pictured here), the initiative aims to discover and nurture new accessories design talent with the prize of a six-month apprenticeship at Roger Vivier. Famed for creating shoes like sculptures, his shoes were worn by leading figures including Queen Elizabeth II, Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy and The Beatles. Roger Vivier’s legacy has been revived since 2003 under the artistic direction of Bruno Frisoni. Alongside footwear, the Roger Vivier offering has expanded its range of accessories to include handbags, sunglasses and jewellery. Frisoni began his career working alongside Jean-Louis Scherrer, Lanvin and Christian Lacroix. In 1995 he decided to work on his own and began collaborating with the House of Trussardi, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche under Alber Elbaz. In 2003 Bruno Frisoni accepted the task of reviving the Roger Vivier brand alongside Ines de la Fressange as Brand Ambassador and muse.

This apprenticeship has been designed to provide the winner with intensive exposure to all aspects of the luxury accessory business from design and development, to dealing with the press and wholesale account management. Candidates, who do not need to be formally trained, can apply through the Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden website www.fashionfringe.co.uk where five finalists will then be selected to present their application and be judged on their creativity and business acumen. This will include interviews with Artistic Director Bruno Frisoni and a judging panel. Past winners of Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden Accessories include Helen Robotham (2009) who was awarded a six month apprenticeship at Jimmy Choo and as a result of this is now working as an Accessories Designer for Burberry. Liam Fahy, who has recently launched his own label, was awarded the first ever Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden Accessories apprenticeship, selected by a judging panel chaired by Manolo Blahnik to take on a ten month paid internship at Rupert Sanderson which included the opportunity to move to Italy to work at the Rupert Sanderson factory.

Georgina Goodman introduces new iPhone app

Georgina Goodman has announced the launch of its new App for iPhone. The Love Shoes app gives access to the full range of shoes and searches can be filtered by size, style, heel height and colour. Registered customers will be rewarded with special mobile offers and the app can locate the user and direct them to the nearest store using Google maps. The Georgina Goodman ‘Love Shoes’ app launched this week.