FIDM Magazine

What's New, What's Hot: Jimmy Choo Icons & Uniqlo Flagship

To commemorate its 15th anniversary, Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon has introduced a capsule collection of shoes inspired by several of the most popular styles from the label's archives. Called Jimmy Choo Icons, the classic shoes have been reimagined with bold colors and textures (including hand-applied feathers, crystals, and giant, glittery corsages), lending a modern edge to the footwear that helped rocket the Jimmy Choo brand into footwear stardom. And for those who can't afford the $850-$2,495 price tags, there's Jimmy Choo XV, a coffe table book featuring the company's fifteen most significant shoes, along with red carpet images, design sketches, and behind-the-scenes photos. The Jimmy Choo Icons collection can be seen and pre-ordered here.

 

Japanese fashion chain Uniqlo feted the grand opening of its newest and largest flagship store in NYC last Thursday with a huge party that drew some 1,600 guests, including a bevy of celebrities and New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The store, an enormous 89,000 square feet, is located on the city's stylish Fifth Avenue.

Considered the Gap of Japan, Uniqlo is known and loved for selling reasonably-priced, casual fashion, and, despite having neighbors like luxury brands Tiffany & Co., Bergdorf Goodman, and Louis Vuitton, the new flagship is no exception. There are floor to ceiling displays of cashmere sweaters priced from $50-60 and jeans on sale for around $10! --Angel

FIDM Alumna is a Shoe Designer and Scientist

FIDM Alumna Sasha Igdari was formally educated in microbiology and genetic engineering and has been a scientist in biotechnology for nearly a decade.

Her passion for design led her to FIDM and a double life: scientist by day, designer by night. While working at a local comfort shoe store she noticed how footwear affects women's health and lives and eventually came up with a concept for the SoleAsana footbed: the first anatomically correct, contoured, high-heeled footbed designed to mold to the unique contours of the individual foot.

The result is a stunning footwear collection that supports the arches of the foot making it leaps and bounds more comfortable.

Fashion Lawyer Speaks to FIDM Business Students

Fashion law expert and author Barbara Kolsun gave a small group of BS Business Management students at the fashion design school a fascinating overview of the legal issues facing the apparel industry on a visit to the downtown LA campus on Tuesday. As Executive Vice President/General Counsel for Stuart Weitzman, Kolsun deals with the everyday business problems facing a company engaged in the global fashion industry. Among the issues she tackles are counterfeiting, human rights compliance, human resources, real estate contacts, and the evolving laws governing intellectual property and design. Kolsun, who serves on the FIDM Advisory Board and has worked for such brands as Calvin Klein and Kate Spade, gave a piece of advice to the aspiring designers in the room, telling them to trademark their names as they launch their careers. Kolsun is co-author of the bible on fashion law: Fashion Law: A Guide for Designers, Fashion Executives and Attorneys.

Just Accepted Fashion Design Student is a Budding Shoe Designer

Just Accepted Fashion Design Student Emma Sienkiewycz is already designing shoes with the help of a local cobbler in her native Hinesburg, Vermont.

"I am very intrigued in attending a school that specializes in fashion, which put FIDM high on my list. My aspiration to be a part of the footwear industry led me to FIDM. For this reason, I am highly tempted by the Footwear Design Program that the school offers. Being a shoe designer is my ultimate goal, so this program immediately sparked my interest."

Read the rest of the interview at FIDM's FashionClub.com Daily Blog.

Three Grads Working at Report Signature

In Seattle, three FIDM Alums are working together at Report Signature, the high-end footwear line.

MoonJoo Jun '03, Nachelle Sorensen '07, and Arlyn Weaver '08 all have thriving careers at the company. 

FIDM Grad Launches Bridal Footwear Line

Footwear Design Alumna Kim Dingman, of Jen + Kim Shoes, have joined forces with Colorifics for an alternative bridal line called Jen + Kim for Coloriffics. The collection mixes tradition, edge, and femininity for the special occasion customer who craves something different for their big day. "What we wanted to create was something that our customer wants to continue wearing long after her wedding," Kim explains.

Footwear Design Grad's Boot Featured on Good Morning America

One of the must-have boots for fall is by FIDM Footwear Design Program Alumna Talisa Hill for Restricted Footwear. The shoe designer's lace-up boot "Combat" was featured on Good Morning America, in People Magazine, and on an episode of Project Runway.

FIDM Footwear Design Grad Jonnathan Guerrero Wins Donald J Pliner Design Challenge and Gets Hired by Charles David

Jonnathan Guerrero won the Donald J Pliner FIDM Design Challenge earlier this year. He just graduated from FIDM's Footwear Design Program and is already working as a designer for Charles David of California.

"I was very excited to hear [Donald J Pliner's] comments on my designs. Getting positive feedback and reaction from my instructors at FIDM was very flattering and made me feel good about the choice I made of taking the Footwear Design Program, but when I heard that Donald J Pliner was very impressed and liked all of the designs I submitted, it gave me further confidence that I was on the right road and off to a great start."

Read the entire interview with Jonnathan on FIDM's FashionClub.com Daily.

Winning Award Leads To Job For FIDM Footwear Design Grad Annie Pho

Annie Pho was one of the winners of the Donald J Pliner FIDM Design Challenge last year and she is now working for the company as a footwear designer! She also writes a shoe blog with fellow winner Leila Kerze called Shoelosophy.

"[Winning the award] has definitely helped with my career. I didn't expect such a great opportunity to come out of it and now I have a full time job with the company. I'm currently a footwear designer for Donald J Pliner/Lisa Pliner. I help develop and design a collection every season and follow up with various factories including Italy, China and Spain. Lots of traveling is involved to oversee that the designs look good or to change styles that need tweaking. I also have the privilege of working with amazing technicians from Italy who have taught me a lot about fitting shoes."

Read the entire interview with Annie on FIDM's FashionClub.com Daily.

FIDM Alumna Leila Kerze Designing Footwear in Italy for Donald J Pliner

Just last year, Leila Kerze was a student in the FIDM Footwear Design Program. She competed in and won the "Donald J Pliner FIDM Design Challenge." Leila graduated from the program and is now living in Florence, Italy, designing footwear for the 'Donald J Pliner' and 'Lisa for Donald Pliner' lines! Her goals right now are to perfect her Italian and find a new apartment in Florence.

"Winning the contest was my introduction to Donald. From there I started freelancing for the company. Soon after, I was hired full time and traveling to Italy, China, Miami and New York to work on the shoes."

Read the entire interview with Leila Kerze on FIDM's FashionClub.com Daily.