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Aiming to reach design heights through flat shoes elegance
By Yang Di |
April 19, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SOME designers - such as Christian Louboutin - are definitely not interested in comfort and practicality. But while high heels are empowering, most of us are eager for footwear that's elegant yet fun; chic yet comfortable.
Charles Philip, an Italian-born designer in his mid-20s, knows how to create wearable shoes that are fun, fashionable and simple. He launched his first collection for spring/summer and it was a sensation. Now, the Shanghai-based designer has four collections: pre-fall, fall/winter, spring/summer, and cruise.
CP design loafers are found in stores, such as Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milan, Browns and Harvey Nichols in London and Bergdorf Goodman and Saks in New York.
Philip shares his vision and inspiration with Shanghai Daily.
Q: What inspired you to design shoes?
A: I grew up in Milan, involved in fashion and photography, thanks to my mother who was editor-in-chief of Italian Harper's Bazaar. I always loved shoes, and when I moved to Shanghai to study, I realized designing shoes was my dream.
Q: Do you have a background in design or manufacturing?
A: I didn't have any design or manufacturing background. I did business studies in college. My partner Sheila Pitigala studied fashion design at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, so we pulled our ideas and concepts together and started the business, designing what we loved the most - our signature Philip slipper.
Q: Why did you decide to start your own line of comfortable and fun loafers, instead of high heels?
A: I always wore Prince Albert slippers shoes and was inspired to reinterpret that style, to make them colorful, fun and chic for girls to wear.
Q: What's been the most difficult part of starting your own business?
A: I was concerned whether stores and the customer would love and wear the shoes. But they became a success and status symbol, and the Philip slipper was born! Welcome to flat elegance!
Q: What's your biggest achievement?
A: For sure, the stores where we sell them. The first season we gave them exclusivity to Bloomingdale's in New York. From there we supplied major stores worldwide, including Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milano, Browns and Harvey Nichols in London, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks in NYC. Moreover, CP is worn by celebrities such as Rihanna, Jessica Alba and Brooke Shields.
Q: What makes your loafer special?
A: The special colors, prints and fabrics used mean they can be adapted to every kind of outfit and personality.
Q: Why do you choose stripes as your signature pattern for the lining?
A: I love stripes and got original idea because I often wear striped shirts.
Q: Why do you pay so much attention to elegant packaging?
A: Details are what makes the difference, so I thought we had to pay attention to special details, not only for the shoe and box, but also accessories. Customers appreciate our packaging.
Q: Who are your target customers?
A: I describe our customers with three words: sophisticated, fun and cosmopolitan. Sophisticated because they have great taste; fun because they like colorful materials and to mix materials and styles; and cosmopolitan because we live in a world where cultures coexist.
Q: What's next for you?
A: Charles Philip Shanghai will open the first flagship store in Shanghai before the summer. The new store will be possible to order custom made CP's and buy stock from previous collections.
Q: Where can we find the shoes?
A: Right now, you can purchase from Catie Lo on Wukang Road and for the men shoes at Area Living on Shaanxi Road N.
Charles Philip, an Italian-born designer in his mid-20s, knows how to create wearable shoes that are fun, fashionable and simple. He launched his first collection for spring/summer and it was a sensation. Now, the Shanghai-based designer has four collections: pre-fall, fall/winter, spring/summer, and cruise.
CP design loafers are found in stores, such as Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milan, Browns and Harvey Nichols in London and Bergdorf Goodman and Saks in New York.
Philip shares his vision and inspiration with Shanghai Daily.
Q: What inspired you to design shoes?
A: I grew up in Milan, involved in fashion and photography, thanks to my mother who was editor-in-chief of Italian Harper's Bazaar. I always loved shoes, and when I moved to Shanghai to study, I realized designing shoes was my dream.
Q: Do you have a background in design or manufacturing?
A: I didn't have any design or manufacturing background. I did business studies in college. My partner Sheila Pitigala studied fashion design at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, so we pulled our ideas and concepts together and started the business, designing what we loved the most - our signature Philip slipper.
Q: Why did you decide to start your own line of comfortable and fun loafers, instead of high heels?
A: I always wore Prince Albert slippers shoes and was inspired to reinterpret that style, to make them colorful, fun and chic for girls to wear.
Q: What's been the most difficult part of starting your own business?
A: I was concerned whether stores and the customer would love and wear the shoes. But they became a success and status symbol, and the Philip slipper was born! Welcome to flat elegance!
Q: What's your biggest achievement?
A: For sure, the stores where we sell them. The first season we gave them exclusivity to Bloomingdale's in New York. From there we supplied major stores worldwide, including Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milano, Browns and Harvey Nichols in London, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks in NYC. Moreover, CP is worn by celebrities such as Rihanna, Jessica Alba and Brooke Shields.
Q: What makes your loafer special?
A: The special colors, prints and fabrics used mean they can be adapted to every kind of outfit and personality.
Q: Why do you choose stripes as your signature pattern for the lining?
A: I love stripes and got original idea because I often wear striped shirts.
Q: Why do you pay so much attention to elegant packaging?
A: Details are what makes the difference, so I thought we had to pay attention to special details, not only for the shoe and box, but also accessories. Customers appreciate our packaging.
Q: Who are your target customers?
A: I describe our customers with three words: sophisticated, fun and cosmopolitan. Sophisticated because they have great taste; fun because they like colorful materials and to mix materials and styles; and cosmopolitan because we live in a world where cultures coexist.
Q: What's next for you?
A: Charles Philip Shanghai will open the first flagship store in Shanghai before the summer. The new store will be possible to order custom made CP's and buy stock from previous collections.
Q: Where can we find the shoes?
A: Right now, you can purchase from Catie Lo on Wukang Road and for the men shoes at Area Living on Shaanxi Road N.
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