Lady O Shoes has been featured in Fashion Times, New York! Check out the exclusive interview with our founder, Lesley Zheng today!
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Lady O Shoes Takes Floral Prints To The Next Level [Exclusive Interview]
Nov 03, 2014 02:07 PM EST
Floral prints for spring
are nothing new, but Lesley Zheng, the woman behind Lady
O Shoes, has found a way to make the pretty pattern fresh again.
Lady O Shoes recently made its debut for the spring
2015 season with a collection of footwear made from real flowers. Using a
patent-pending design process, Lady O Shoes products are crafted using pressed
flowers that are picked at their peak and infused in vinyl.
Ranging in price from $158 to $338, the shoes in this
debut collection come in a variety of styles, including platform peep-toe
slingbacks, wedges and flat sandals - all of which are available in patent
leather and braided raffia.
We recently chatted with Zheng about her debut
collection for Lady O Shoes, her decision to use real flowers in her designs
and much more. Keep reading to learn more about this emerging and innovative
footwear brand.
1. What was the inspiration for your debut collection?
"The inspiration comes from nature. Growing up, I
really loved the vibrant colors of flowers and butterflies. I really wanted to
include those vibrant colors into my own designs."
2. Describe Lady O Shoes in a few words.
"We like to refer to Lady O Shoes as the four
F's: Floral, Fun, Fresh and Fabulous. Other words that describe us include
artistic, unique and comfortable."
3. Why use real flowers in your designs?
"I have been in the shoe industry for over 16
years, I have seen countless styles try to mimic natural flowers and preserve
that spring and summer feeling. However, the results are predictable; designers
use flower print or artificial flowers made of fabric or plastic. These are
pale imitations of the real thing. I wanted to make something original and
authentic that could preserve the beauty of nature. The pressed flowers
incorporated into our designs allow people to have a piece of nature in their
shoes."
4. Lady O Shoes are made with NASA's Poron® memory
foam, which sounds amazing. Can you describe the feel of your shoes and why it
was important to make them so comfortable?
"You will feel the excellent support from the
Poron® memory foam and the arch support design immediately. Even after hours of
wearing our high heels, your feet still feel great! The experience of wearing
shoes that left my feet blistered was the real catalyst for me to make a
comfortable shoe line. I looked at my shoe closet and wondered 'Why can't I
have beautifully designed shoes that I can walk in for more than a half hour?'
I decided to fuse high-end designer style with comfort. It is important to me
to have a pair of shoes that are not only one-of-a-kind but also
wearable."
5. Other than the fact that you use real flowers, what
makes Lady O Shoes different from other footwear brands?
"Lady O Shoes are a combination of unique style
and comfort. Lady O Shoes are made in the same factories with some of the same
materials as luxury brands like Stuart Weitzman, Sigerson Morrison and
Michael Kors."
6. Do you have plans to eventually create shoes
without pressed flowers? If so, can you explain the ideas you have or other
areas you want to explore?
"Yes, the pressed flower shoes are part of our
debut collection. We will keep some pressed flower pieces in our upcoming fall
collection. However, our next collection will also include some classic and
timeless styles without pressed flowers. We are currently researching and
creating some vintage-inspired styles as well as wedding-worthy bridal
styles."
7. Who would you love to see wear one of your designs?
"I would love to see some A-list celebrities
wearing our designs. I'm a big fan of Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon,
Carrie Underwood, Blake Lively and Olivia Palermo and
would love to see them in Lady O Shoes."
8. Excluding a pair of Lady O Shoes, what's one type
of shoe you think every woman should own?
"I think a pair of knee-high leather boots would
be an excellent addition to any woman's wardrobe. I think the Stuart Weitzman
signature 50/50 boot is great because it can easily be worn day to night. The
boots are also comfy, timeless and have style just like Lady O Shoes."
9. What's your favorite fall 2014 footwear trend?
"Shoes with sparking elements like jewelry and
beads are some of my favorite trends for fall. I love embellishments."
10. What's one fall 2014 footwear trend you can't
stand?
"Crisscross-strap flats like those from Proenza
Schouler. I won't say I can't stand them, but I think they are
funny-looking."
FOLLOW: Lady
O Shoes, footwear, Florals
