Level Shoes are in India.
Level Shoes is a globally recognized retail concept and destination dedicated to the world of designer footwear. The 96,000 square-foot store offers a wide range of unique services; from shoe experts, foot therapies, culinary delights, dedicated concierge service, Bridal Suite and regional online shopping. They offer over 250 international designer brands of which more than 100 are exclusive to Level.
To commemorate the Fall Winter season, Level Shoes embarked on a journey to uncover the magic of India and making it their inspiration. The ‘Dear India’ campaign is a love letter to the wondrous and textured culture of a country full of magic, romance, and celebration. In a season that speaks to the richness of colour, texture and treatment, the spirit of India is translated into exclusive collections, curated talks and an extraordinary store transformation. Sixteen designers were invited to join the celebration by creating an opulent Indian inspired piece as part of an exclusive capsule collection, in line with AW17 trends.
The exclusive women’s collections include Alberta Ferretti, Aquazzura, Laurence Dacade, Malone Souliers, Tods, Ingie Paris and Rupert Sanderson to name a few. For men, designers Edhen Milano, CB Made in Italy, Duke & Dexter and Stemar created exquisite styles inspired by the majesty of India.
LEVEL SHOES lAUNCHES DEAR INDIA CAMPAIGN
• 16 designers created exclusive India inspired styles to celebrate ‘Dear India’ • 4 collaborations between India’s top couture designers and leading international footwear designers • Store transformation to take guests on a journey through India • Curated in-store talks exploring the rich narrative of India with special guests
To commemorate the Fall Winter season, Level Shoes embarked on a journey to uncover the magic of India. The ‘Dear India’ campaign is a love letter to the wondrous and textured culture of a country full of magic, romance, and celebration. India, with her rich and vibrant heritage has served as an inspiration for international fashion for decades and now, as the backdrop to the Level Shoes AW17 campaign.
In a season that speaks to the richness of colour, texture and treatment, the spirit of India is translated into exclusive collections, curated talks and an extraordinary store transformation. Sixteen designers were invited to join the celebration by creating an opulent Indian inspired piece as part of an exclusive capsule collection, in line with AW17 trends.
To add to the exclusive collections, four of India’s celebrated designers join leading international footwear brands to marry their craft and share in their love for India to create styles that truly represent the beauty of both worlds.
Chloe Gosselin, designer of French luxury shoe brand and Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta who is recognised as one of the strongest voices in couture and fashion from India created a one of a kind style for Level Shoes.
Dubai-based fashion designer Maha Abdul Rasheed of Bambah and Fizzy Goblet, a young Indian footwear brand by Laksheeta Govil came together to create a collection of Indian Juttis with a twist, which truly represent the beauty of both Bambah’s SS’18 RTW collection and Fizzy Goblets traditional designs.
Sparked by the abundant designs of the Indian wedding ceremony and the alluring landscapes, designers have recreated the beauty of India as seen in their eyes. The exclusive women’s collections include Alberta Ferretti, Aquazzura, Laurence Dacade, Malone Souliers, Tods, Ingie Paris and Rupert Sanderson to name a few. For men, designers Edhen Milano, CB Made in Italy, Duke & Dexter and Stemar created exquisite styles inspired by the majesty of India. Aquazzura founder Edgardo Osorio channelled his fascination with Indian culture by reimagining his AW17 “powder puff” sling back into gold and red, as a tribute to the majestic culture.
“I’ve always been fascinated by India’s diverse culture and its breath-taking scenery. I had a chance to spend two weeks in December discovering Rajasthan and was very inspired by the incredible artisanal craftsmanship and its richness of fabrics, jewels and architecture. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of India.” – Edgardo Osorio, Founder and Creative Director, Aquazzura
Creating an India-inspired jacquard fabric for her classic fall sandals, Laurence Dacade harnessed her deep-rooted passion for India into her designs for this collection.
“I have been to India several times and I must say that it is a very inspiring country to me. When Level Shoes invited me to partake in Dear India I was very excited and all my memories and emotions from my trips came back. I could say I love everything about India from the colours, the people, the food to the architecture, the flowers, the perfumes. I wanted the fabric to reflect the richness of the Indian saris and the colour pink for Jaipur the Pink City and gold for the majestic jewelry.” – Laurence Dacade, Founder and Designer
Malone Souliers’ love of combining exotic patterns came to life when designing the exclusive styles for Dear India. The vibrant spirit shines through Mary Alice Malone’s designs for both women and mini-me.
“Roy and I have always been fascinated by the richness of the Zardosi embroideries, by the subtle combination of gold and silver threads to create the most elaborate designs... so, we felt there would be no better way to convey the admiration we have for their way of life by using this traditional technique on our shoes. The intricacy of the thread work, the vibrant silk colours, mixed with an array of crystals and pearls, create in our minds a real celebration for the senses.” – Mary Alice Malone, Founder and Creative Director, Malone Souliers
Street-style stars turned designers of Edhen Milano, Filippo Cirulli and Filippo Fiora recreated their classic Brera double monk loafers to mirror the remarkable energy of India. “India is the cradle of colours, richness and incredible complexity. We truly enjoyed the process of channeling these elements into our designs for men." – Filippo Cirulli and Filippo Fiora, Designers and Founders, Edhen Milano
With his exquisite attention to detail, Rupert Sanderson’s design for ‘Dear India’ is deeply rooted within his understanding of the femininity of India. “A rich contrast grosgrain colliding with a Rajasthan inspired rich woven silk upper is carried across one of our most popular Rupert Sanderson silhouettes, wrapping like a sari only across the foot. It is always an honour to work with Level Shoes as the leading store of its kind with a true global vision.” – Rupert Sanderson, Designer
Enriching the journey further, Level Shoes will continue to explore the rich and dynamic narrative of India through talks hosted in-store across September and October, with special appearances by guest collaborators.
Taking inspiration from the Indian wedding ceremony, the store will transform using different aspects of a traditional wedding and iconic architecture of India. With the aim of celebrating India’s rich heritage, there will also be a focus on craftsmanship, celebrated poets, traditional cuisine, emerging art and the undeniable glamour of Bollywood. Level Shoes will commemorate the campaign with a three-day festival in store from
October 12th to the 14th ahead of Diwali, The Festival of Lights to immerse its guests into the wondrous pathways of India filled with light, colour, and energy.
The ‘Dear India’ collections launch in-store and on levelshoes.com throughout September and October 2017
