Having now completed a plethora of “interviews,” I found the need to seek out those who have not been represented by their specific field of endeavor, skill or talents … Enter Philippe Zorzetto and his handmade shoes. To my eye, the shoes “speak of” those Capezio jazz shoes that flooded the disco era dance floors of the 70s and of Flamenco boots that inhabit the Iberian Peninsula and idea of what so many varied dancers might be wearing.
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In circumspect, one might say that Zorzetto is influenced by dance, possibly even subconsciously, and of yes course, the distinction here is that his shoes are handmade and are not as ubiquitous or activity specific as the aforementioned styles. He is a designer on the move with his eye toward expansion and a sort of ubiquity that competes within this rarefied sphere of fashion and craftsmanship. Again, in today’s retail atmosphere Zorzetto offers his clients the same options as his aspirational competitors and that is of course his ready to wear range as well as the bespoke options available. The made to order component of fashion has become increasingly important to any luxury brand.
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So here in his own words he speaks to us of his past, present and future for his brand and his projects.
Jeffrey Felner: Why do you believe that
your product is better or different than others?
Philippe
Zorzetto: I think that life is a mix of meeting, envies and
also mistakes. It was not really expected to become a shoe designer even
creator, and develop a shoe brand. But today, I believe that there is no hazard,
there is only “rendezvous “with yourself. This essential is to try and believe
to do things.
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JF: If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would
they be and why?
PZ: There should be different profiles, sometimes surprising one:
Kate Moss, because I think that she should be fun and today she is the style's icon.
Pedro Almodovar, because I saw all
his movies and I was in Madrid recently, I really love this city Barack Obama, because he is a
great president, cultivated and smart.
Catherine
Deneuve, because she is the leading lady of French cinema and
I grew up watching her movies. Douglas Kennedy,
because is the one of my favorite writers, where ever you are, you can read him.
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JF: How to do you envision your brand in the next 5 years
in terms of retail expansion or brand extensions?
PZ: I wish
to expand my shops first in Paris, then in Europe and USA to finish. I also wish
to develop my brand and new websites which are more interactive with more
content and more services.
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JF: If you could choose any collaboration, what or who
would it be and why?
PZ: I would do a collaboration with Ines
de la Fressange, because i met her recently and she is the most adorable person
that I ever met, and really talented.
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JF: Why do you believe that your product is better or
different than others?
PZ: My shoes
are all handmade; I worked hard on the comfort. It was really important to me
that my clients feel like they are wearing sneakers but with shoes … same level
of comfort. My creations are much stripped down with clean lines that revisit
or reference the classics but modernized to accommodate our times.
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