1. Tell us about your background, where did you study?

I was always interested in design and fashion, but as I was growing up I thought my path would lead me to a career in a more traditional field. It wasn’t until I was a student at Sarah Lawrence College that I started to inch closer to pursuing my dream of designing shoes. It was there that I took the first-ever drawing class of my life. (Beyond kindergarten, I thought the ability to draw was a skill that I no longer possessed.) Since I already loved shoes then, I drew a series of them for my final project that year. I received an A and the professor gave me a set of postcards that featured shoe illustrations by Andy Warhol. From then I was hooked and the idea of designing shoes started to become more than just a causal interest. 

2. How did you get interested in shoe design?

I think that shoes are an indicator of one’s personality. I collected (and still collect) an eclectic mix of shoes that included runway pieces and traditional footwear from non-western cultures. I had shoes for different moods and occasions. However, I wanted to create well-made shoes with impeccable details that reflected my personality. 

3. Who had you worked for before you opened Alexis Isabel?

After college, creative stints at Schwartz & Benjamin and Sigerson Morrison helped to jumpstart my career in footwear design. Wanting to enrich my skills and the art of harmonizing form, function, and beauty, I enrolled at Domus Academy, a design school in Milan. Afterwards, I worked in shoe production in Italy and was able to fine-tune my technical understanding of shoemaking from an industrial perspective. 

4. When did you launch your company?

Six years ago. Initially, the shoe line encompassed shoes for day, night, après-ski, and special occasions. Later on it became clear that customers were mostly buying our shoes for weddings and special occasions. With this in mind, I decided to focus on creating only wedding and special occasion shoes. This April, our second bridal and special occasion shoe collection inspired by Moroccan courtyards was digitally presented. 

5. Describe the concept and vision of the brand?

Alexis Isabel shoes are created for the woman in of search of splendor, and who has an endless sense of joie de vivre. Wearing glamorous footwear-heeled or not- is her favorite form of self-expression.

6. Tell us about the look and fabrications of shoes you design.

Refined silhouettes, tailor-made jewels, and whimsically contorted leathers are signature characteristics of our shoes. Up-cycled leathers and certified sustainable satin are used in every collection.  

7. Is this a niche you are filling; how would you describe the styles?

My goal is to create collections that offer something beautiful for not only brides, but also other members of the bridal party and guests. The styles in the core bridal collection include: beautiful flats with meticulously made jeweled accessories, satin sandals with a sleek block heel, and strappy flat sandals that sparkle as you walk in them. The collection also features the “Something Blue” pumps that have a little blue leather twirl on the vamp. One of our signature styles, the “Bejeweled Baby” t-strap heels is also offered in three different colors. 

8. Where are the shoes made?

The shoes are all handmade by an artisanal shoemaking family in Italy. The devotion to their craft shines through their handiwork, giving each shoe an indispensable one-of-a-kind essence.

9. Where are they sold and where are you hoping to expand?

The shoes are currently sold at alexisisabel.com and wolfandbadger.com, an online boutique. We are currently seeking retail partners to bring our shoes to bridal salons and physical stores in the U.S. and G.C.C. countries. 

10. What are the price points?

Prices range from $250 to about $950. We strive to offer exquisite shoes at prices that are more within reach compared to our competitors.