2 DIFFERENT SHOES DESIGNERS TO WATCH

Two different shoes designers to watch, both with a background in fashion world, Francesco Russo as a designer for big brands and Susana Traça as ex model.
He's Italian but he lives and works in Paris, she is African, but she lives and works in Milan.
The Russo's shoes are classic and elegant, while the Traca's shoes are sporty and trendy.
Francesco Russo was born in Puglia in 1974, Russo honed his skills in Milano, first at Costume National, where he worked on the shoes, bags and accessories lines between 1996 and 1998, then at Miu Miu, in 2000 Russo relocated Paris, where he still lives, to join the house of YSL, working alongside both Tom Ford and Stefano Pilati. Russo mixes precise lines and sex-appeal into creations that have a deep evocative power. So much so, in fact, that in 2008 he was named creative director at Sergio Rossi, which under his tenure flourished into a fully-fledged global phenomenon. Here, Russo continued along the hi-octane path initiated at YSL, creating intricate and seducing shoes while adding body pieces to the whole image. In 2013 Russo went solo, launching his eponymous label. He chose an unorthodox angle and focused on just a few timeless shapes. Russo now skips the idea of the collection, as well as that of the succession of seasons, to create objects all fully bespoke and, therefore unique.
Susana Traça was born in Angola, the Heart of Africa, she moved to study in Portugal when she was just 14. Then she started working as a model throughout Europe treading some of the most famous catwalks and After winning the Lisbon “Model of the Year” award in 1996, Susana decides to “taste” fashion in a different way. Once landed in Milan, she started working as a commercial for some famous brands, but her creative genius was not quite satisfied. So, reinventing the places she visited and where she lived, melting her travel memories and cultural influences, Susana discovers herself as a shoe designer. Inspired by her background, she built up a strongly stylistic project, supported by the desire to create a captivating and sophisticated collection, designed for contemporary and cosmopolitan women. Angolan roots, Portuguese education, job and life experiences throughout Europe become the multiple facets of the original collections by Susana Traça.

Left:Francesco Russo  -  Right: Susana Traça

Francesco Russo

Francesco Russo

Francesco Russo

Susana Traça

Susana Traça

Susana Traça