Have you had the chance to check out our new Interwoven Collection yet? This pre-order features Margaret and Judy, two new shoes that each feature woven leather decorative details.
Over here at American Duchess HQ, we’ve been working on these shoes for a while yet. We think they turned out so lovely, and they make a beautifully cohesive duo. We love sharing how our shoes come to be, so today, we’re going to go into some of the background of how we designed Margaret and Judy!
The seedlings of the Interwoven Collection were planted a long time ago, when we were looking at some beautiful woven leather samples. Woven leather details had a few periods of resurgence in early 20th century fashion, and this trend led to some really remarkable shoe styles. We were inspired to create some reproductions that incorporated these trends.
Some 1920s shoes with woven leather details from the Shoe Icons Museum… can you see the inspiration for Marjorie as well?
In the 1920s, for example, woven leather details in footwear were part of a broader trend in footwear wherein cutouts, mesh or interlacing woven panels were highly fashionable. As we’ve mentioned in several other blog posts, the increased visibility of feet and ankles in 1920s fashion led to an explosion of inspired, eye-catching shoes. Details were important not just for evening shoes, but for daywear as well. As leisure activities and sport remained popular (another often-discussed topic on the AD blog), functional design continued to be incorporated into footwear in a manner that was both practical and aesthetic. Woven leather panels, perforations, cutouts, and interesting weave patterns provided flexibility and airflow while also looking good.
These trends provided the inspiration behind Margaret. We wanted to create a 1920s shoe that was distinct to its time period, visually interesting, and also practical and sleek for daytime wear.
These close-ups are of some details of a shoe from our own collection that helped to inspire Margaret.
Another benefit of woven leather details is color combinations. Two-tone effects with tone-on-tone, coordinating, or complementary colors provided a vast variety of opportunities for creative design. When working on Margaret, we landed on a few different color combinations that look distinctively 1920s.
Woven leather features remained popular through the 1930s, as economic constraints influenced fashion. The narrow strips of material used to create woven patterns provided opportunities for visual interest whilst also using materials wisely; think scraps that could have otherwise been thrown away, or using less leather to create a more interesting shoe.
These sorts of economically-driven benefits continued to influence footwear design into the 1940s. With the scarcity and materials shortages caused by World War II, fashion was wholly influenced by restriction. This period of rationing and materials restrictions led to innovative design. Weaving, braiding, and cutouts all provided opportunities for interesting designs while making use of less material, whether it be cloth or leather.
Within the resort-wear and vacation-inspired fashion trends of the mid-to-late 1940s, this meant lots of sandals, wedges, and espadrilles with woven detailing. We wanted to use our beloved Esme last and wedge to create a really fresh and colorful 1940s sandal, complete with open sides and an ankle strap. When sourcing materials, we found an absolutely stunning woven leather with a detailed and geometric woven design. Our color palette was inspired by spring and summer 1940s fashion, with bold and bright shades. Paired with matching leather on the wedge heel and straps, the end result is so deliciously 1940s.
We know that you will be just as excited as we are to wear the Interwoven Collection. We can’t wait to see what sort of fabulous ensembles our community puts together inspired by the woven details of Margaret and Judy! The Interwoven Collection is 15% off through April 19, so you just have to choose which colors speak to you the most.
Pre-Order is Open
April 10-19
15% Discount Per Pair
AmericanDuchess.com
