CRAFTING exquisite footwear that channels a modern take on classicalism, step forth Malone Souliers. And it’s a look that is loved, as proved by Blake Lively, Rosamund Pike, Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyoncé who have donned the label for their glitzy events. Perfectly encapsulating this design approach and principles of craftsmanship is the recently launched AW24 collection entitled, L’Appartamento.
Vittoria Clutch
Where modernity meets heritage and elegance, Co-Creative Directors Coco Fong and Valerio Bava pay homage to their Italian factories, saying “Every trip to our factories in Italy is a design pilgrimage, and our AW24 collection is a homage to the deep influence that the Italian design has had on our creative process.”
It doesn’t stop there, as they’ve cited mid-century Italian architecture and its symmetries as an influence too, see the Malone Souliers signature crest reworked as a delicate flat chain with a geometric design which has been hand-stitched onto the Virna pump and carryover styles Maureen and Norah, designed to reflect the daylight.
“We both have a deep love and obsession with great pieces of Italian objects and furniture, and it’s always been a part of our research process to visit flea markets and antique dealers; so incorporating material references and interesting shapes in our shoes was a very fun and fulfilling process.”
Spencer Ballet Pumps
There’s also a tactile quality to the line, with the Raffaella pump and Andrea slingback featuring marabou feathers, and crystal stripes applied to classic and newcomers, and the ballet flat style accented with velvet ribbons, while the Vivienne clutch and Jazz slingback offer a sculptural grace.
Maureen Heels
As for the colour palette rich shades such as the sensual rosewood red, sit alongside neutrals in a range of luxurious materials, including suede and mesh. As the women say, it’s hard to choose the favourite, “it’s difficult to choose our favourites – it’s like asking a parent to choose their favourite child. But, definitely stand-outs of the season are the Mona, with its architectural sparkly crest, inspired by our logo; and the Andrea, with its feather pompom, inspired by the fantastical couture creations from Roberto Capucci.”
Jazz Heels
The campaign, which plays on natural lights and shadows, highlights the different moments of daily life against a backdrop of quotidian objects and varied textures, showcasing the contrast of stillness (cue artfully placed shoes) and graceful motion, while handbags appear as objets d’art.
“Getting to source and picture the collection against some of our favourite designers’ pieces has been such a joy. We wanted to highlight the synergy between the shoes and the objects, which informed not just the seasonal inspiration but our personal design aesthetic as well”, say Coco Fong and Valerio Bava.
Andrea Kitten Heel
The Malone Souliers AW24 main collection launches mid-August at Malonesouliers.com and in Harrods’ Shoe Heaven, and after that, expect the LFW presentation in September that’ll reveal the SS25 collection.
by Felicity Carter
Shop the collection at Malonesouliers.com.