New
York based designer Prabal Gurung is taking his first step into footwear with a
collection of six new designs which will accompany his Spring/Summer 2015
offering. Opening up on his approach to the new footwear collection, Prabal
reveals that he did a lot of research before creating the new pieces, and asked
many people established in the industry for some advice. He explained: "I
asked some of my biggest mentors: Carolina Herrera, Caroline Brown [Donna
Karan’s incoming CEO] and Anna Wintour. I reached out to retailers, and I
talked to Nicholas [Kirkwood]. I wanted to make sure I had an understanding of
what I was getting into. It was extremely important that I get feedback. I
wanted to be luxury, but at a smart price point."
The
educational process opened his eyes to see that shoe design is a
"different ball game" to clothing creation and people react
differently to shoes: "It felt like I was going back to school. It’s a
whole different ball game. It is one product where functionality and the design
aesthetic truly need to meet. And shoes need [to evoke] an orgasmic
reaction."
Prabal
is excited about the label's expansion and is also hoping to venture further in
to accessories with bags and other leather pieces in the future. He's hoping to
create a whole global brand: "We definitely want to get into handbags and
small leather goods. The most exciting time is now, and the next ten to 15
years are going to be everything I’ve dreamt about: [crafting] a brand that can
be global."
