(Keltse Bilbao, left, and Galia Katz)

How did you become a shoe designer?

I have always been a shoe addict. I love shoes! Galia and I were friends before we became partners and we had the idea of creating a shoe brand. That is how we became shoe designers.

Galina

What is your background?

I grew up in Bilbao, Spain. I studied economics in Spain and worked in communications for four years. Then I decided to move to New York City and to follow my dream and to do what I really loved, which is fashion. I lived in different countries such us Belgium, London, Mexico City and Miami before ending up in New York City again. Four years ago, I opened a multi-brand store in Mexico City. Now I’m finishing my Master’s Degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology and working really hard to take Plomo to the next level.

Susana

What inspires you in your designs?

Food, people and art. I get inspired when I travel to different countries.

Catalina

How did Plomo begin?

With a cup of coffee in Mexico City! Galia and I decided to make some samples and to give it a try. Two months later, we had our first order from a department store in Mexico City!
Michaella

If you were going on a trip around the world, what 5 pairs of shoes would you pack?

1. A very nice pair of oxfords.
2. Wedge boots like the Veronique boots from our new collection.

Veronique
3. Sexy high heel booties
4. Flat sandals.
5. Unfortunately, some very comfortable sneakers (I hate them but I guess I need some for the trip).

-Kristie Griffith for ShoesTV

Plomo shoes popped up on my radar on a random shoe-gazing Google search and kind of took my breath away. The shoes are unique and sexy, yet look comfortable. After some research, I found out that the company was run by two women, Galia Katz and Keltse Bilbao. In between designing and jet-setting, the ladies stopped for a moment to “Take 5″ for ShoesTV. Today we will hear from Galia, tommorow from Keltse.

Galia Katz grew up in Mexico City and studied fashion and textile design. She started modeling in school. Upon graduating, she headed to Paris to study French and then moved to Barcelona, Spain to work and model. When she decided to start making shoes, she simply began sketching shoes and found a manufacturer, learning the craft along the way.

How did you become a shoe designer?

I actually started in the shoe business importing Spanish shoe brands to Mexico. I was very successful until the Euro started getting so strong and expensive. The whole buying in Euros and selling in Pesos became unthinkable. I decided to make my own shoes and Plomo was born. First I did it on a very small scale, selling to small boutiques in Mexico. When I decided to go mainstream and export the brand to the United States, I invited Keltse into the project.

Cristina

What inspires you in your designs?

Everything. Every day I see things that inspire me. People on the streets, traveling, music, books and women I admire inspire me. Usually when we design we are thinking about what we would love to wear.
Ella

How would you describe Plomo shoes?

They are shoes made for a fashion-oriented woman who is practical, strong and sexy.

Sandra

How do people react to Plomo shoes?

The positive reaction and enthusiasm we have had with the line in such a short period of time has been amazing. We are very grateful and excited.

Sandra

If you were packing for a trip around the world, what 5 pairs of shoes would you bring?

1. Black suede and leather lace up high-heel Plomo Gabriela booties.

2. Cognac gladiator sandals.

3. Beige Plomo Veronique or Lorenza’s white men-inspired shoes.

Veronique

-Kristie Griffith for ShoesTV

Isabel Toledo unveiled her Payless ’12 Footwear and Handbag Collection last week in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The show was Miss Toledo’s first runway show in over 10 years and was held in conjunction with her husband’s art exhibit at El Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. The night highlighted 20 years of the duo’s art and fashion.
Toledo became a household name in 2009 for the “Lemongrass” Day Dress she designed for Michelle Obama for President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Her clothes are also sold in upscale shops like Barney‘s New York and Colette in Paris.

The Puerto Rican runway show featured Toledo’s Spring ’12 apparel line alongside shoe selections from her Payless Spring ’12 collection. The sneak peek of the Payless line featured fun and innovative designs. The Espawind is a spin-off of a traditional espadrille and features a stacked platform sole with striped and blue canvas uppers. Fans of Toledo will note her signature wrap-around ankle strap.
Espawind

The Mary (shown in Solar) is a wedge that has a typical Mary Jane upper with a sculptural wedge sole and blue piping.
Mary (in Solar)
The Romador is a feminine twist on durable fishermen’s sandals. With a silver-bullet colored heel and silver and gold straps across the vamp, this shoe is a sexy take on a practical design.
Romador
Mary (in Natural)
Beach Boot

The collection is due in Payless stores nationwide in February 2012.

-Kristie Griffith for ShoesTV

Cadiz and Real’s inspiration for the line came when they couldn’t find a suitable baby shower gift for a mutual friend.  With Real’s fashion design background and Cadiz’s interior architecture education, they knew they could come up with a custom, chic pair of “first shoes” for a baby.   Their mutual love for music inspired the name Toe Jamms.

Designers Yasmina Cadiz and Amanda Real

Although the ladies knew each other for years, they had the opportunity to work together for Calleen Cordero.  Real had worked for Cordero as her handbag designer for 3 years, and when Cadiz was brought on for the rebranding effort for the brand in 2010 as Creative Director and Photographer, the  ladies shared a creative chemistry.   They were so inspired by working for Calleen Cordero, that you’ll notice a special shoe on their website titled “The Cordero Slip-On.”

Both designers still have their first pair of shoes.  They want to make sure their tiny handcrafted shoes are seen differently than average baby shoes which are usually considered disposable once a baby grows out of them.   They hope that mothers and children will want to have their shoes as a keepsake forever.

The shoes are made to be worn in the child’s first year of life.   Although they have a pre-designed collection, each shoe will have traces of its maker and you can even opt to further customize by adding the child’s name to the satchel the shoes will be sold in. Instead of using boxes they decided to sell the shoes in an environmentally friendly signature satchel that adds a more personalized flare, with or without the child’s name.

Friends and family got a sneak preview of the line at a launch party in LA on September 17th. Cadiz’s brother-in-law, Chef Bill Kim, even flew all the way from Chicago to serve as the official chef of the event.

The site just launched TODAY and we suggest you get a pair soon before all the celeb mamas around town snatch them up. ShoesTV heared that Rachel Zoe’s baby Skylar was the first to own an official pair of Toe Jamms!

Chef Bill Kim at the Official Toe Jamms Launch Party

TJs at Launch party

Toe Jamm Shoe Collection:

Photos: Toe Jamm Shoes

- Tara Akinwande For ShoesTV

Today, we kick off with Charles David of California. The brand has partnered with the Breast Cancer Charities of America (BCCA) for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Charles Malka, Charles David President & CEO                  Pure iGoPink Pump

Charles David has created an iGoPink: Fashion Fights Breast Cancer exclusive pump. The shoe is the classic Charles by Charles David Pure platform pump with black kid suede and a special pink shimmer shine sole that draws attention with every step. The outsole and lining are detailed in the iGoPink pantones.

The Pure was chosen as the BCAA shoe because of its popularity with customers. The Pure retails for $125 and will be available exclusively at Charles David locations nationwide with 20% of sales from the shoe going to the BCAA.

“We are so excited to be dedicating one of our top styles to benefit such an important and worthy cause,” said Joelle Malka, Charles David’s Director of Retail, “I know our customers will be proud to wear this shoe not only for its fashionable style but for what it stands for.”

Erica Harvey

“The Breast Cancer Charities of America are thrilled to be partnering with the highly esteemed Charles David brand that has such a stellar reputation among women of all ages, ” said Erica Harvey, the BCCA’s Executive Director, “Our ‘iGoPink’ logo is a stiletto and we couldn’t think of a more perfect fit!”

The Pure is only the start of the collaboration between Charles David and the BCAA. Throughout the year, there will be three more exclusive designs from the company incorporating iGoPink pinks, the BCAA ribbon logo and a 20% donation towards the charities from the proceeds.

The Pure will be in stores October 15. The shoe will be available for pre-sale purchase on October 1.

-Kristie Griffith for ShoesTV

What inspired you to become a shoe designer?

I’ve been interested in accessories design and all facets of design all of my life.  Since I can remember, footwear design has always been on my mind.  I guess I always wanted to design shoes.
Elizabeth

How did your studies in Italy impact your design philosophy?

As I continue to expand, develop and produce collections in Italy, my work is influenced by spending time and working with my Italian teams season after season. The collections are entirely made in Italy and focus on the highest standard of quality materials. The impeccable construction, workmanship and in-depth attention to detail is unparalleled.

What is your background?

I am Latin American. I was born in Costa Rica. I moved to Canada at the age of 21. I started studying Fashion Quality Control in Costa Rica and finished my schooling as a Graphic Designer in Toronto, Canada.

What kind of woman do you see in your shoes?

The type of woman that I design for is the woman who wants to be different and  is strong and independent. She is not afraid of investing money in something new, unusual and fashion-forward.

Tell me about the current line. How did you pick classic movie stars as an inspiration?

The Fall\Winter 2011 collection is inspired by the classic silver screen’s female stars. These leading ladies played a role in the women’s movement and were key to the evolution of fashion. Each sparked trends that influenced generations to come.

If you were packing for a trip around the world, what 5 pairs of shoes would you bring?

I would bring Veronica, Cosma, Josephine, Elettra and Marlene.

Veronica

Cosma

Josephine
Elettra

Marlene

-Kristie Griffith for ShoesTV

If you are a b-ball fanatic, we know you will be rushing to stores to get your hands on these sneaks which are exclusively designed for D.Rose. The shoes feature Sprint Web that reduces weight and increases comfort.  They also have Sprint Frame technology in the external heel counter that allows for stability and motion control.  The gore ankle strap keeps the sneaks locked in place. Derrick’s ankle injury is kept in check by the adiZero Speedwrap ankle wrap.   The herringbone material and traction pattern on the bottom of the shoes provide great grip and are a perfect match for Derrick’s signature fast playing style.

Apart from being useful on the court, the shoes also have some killer design details.  The tongue of the shoe displays the words “All Flights Cancelled” while the sock liner features a list of NBA cities as destinations on an airport status board. All flights are canceled except for the one that is “Cleared for Flight” to Chicago which represents how D. Rose and the Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and their rival teams did not!

The stylish shoes make their store debut exclusively in Foot Locker and Eastbay stores October 6th, with home and away color options (black, white and red) for $110.  They also plan to roll out five additional colors on December 22nd…Just in time for Christmas!

Check out the photos of these explosive sneakers below:

Photos:adidas

-Tara Akinwande for ShoesTV

 

Chipkos carries men’s and women’s sandals in red, white and black. They retail for $48. 

If you are really feeling giving, then you may want a pair of special edition David Palmer Chipkos. The LA-based artist hand painted this one-of-a-kind sandal which is now deemed the “World’s Most Expensive Pair of Flip Flops” by retailing at $18,000. And, don’t worry, because with this purchase you can save 100,000 square feet of rain forest land.

In case you need another reason to buy Chipkos Sandals try comfort features like  natural contour moulding, FormCush™ anatomical arch support and CurvUp™ foot bed shaping.

For a limited time ShoesTV readers get 10% off their purchase when they use the discount code Shoes10.  Get shopping and call your mama to tell her you just helped save the planet!

The La Jolla
The La Jolla features a lightweight design with mesh and leather overlays.  It has enhanced cushioning in the sole of the shoe and a foot stabilizing “balance bone.‟

The Cardiff

The Cardiff features enhanced cushioning and an “anti-rocker bottom‟ sole for increased stability during foot movement.

You can get a pair at Good Feet retails stores starting October 1st.

What is the first pair of shoes you remember owning?

The first pair I remember owning were see-through plastic shoes I was forced to wear to the beach when I was a kid. I hated those shoes. I felt ridiculous.

Julie loves Louboutin