At the turn of the century Rupert Sanderson’s first line of his eponymous shoe label was produced. They were shoes that women actually wanted to wear, with a focus on fit, length and shape – all designed for comfort to flatter the wearer. It worked and Sanderson became an almost overnight success, honing his craft over the last 15 years and becoming renowned for his timeless yet fashion-forward footwear (no one does a court shoe like Rupert). As we welcome Rupert Sanderson shoes on Coggles, we sat down with the British designer to talk about his career so far, his inspiration and what shoes we should be buying from his AW17 collection.
How would you describe your approach to shoe design?
When designing I focus on line, volume and material. To me these are the most important aspects. The elements have to work together to create a well-balanced shoe that will always flatter the leg. I prefer to avoid overdressing the foot, and work to perfect the silhouette using the best quality materials that make shoes that last, which are graceful and that give power and confidence to the woman who wears them.
You started out in advertising before you went into shoe design – why the change of heart?
It was a straightforward decision at the time. I quit a career in advertising to learn the art of making shoes. I had always been fascinated with architecture and design. I think a lot of people hide a dream to do something creative. If I wasn’t a shoe designer I might have designed boats, but I was lucky enough to make the jump and create a business out of it.
