Hetty Rose is the creation of English shoe designer Henrietta Rose Samuels. Even before graduating from Cordwainers College she had already established her inspired signature style: making shoes out of vintage kimono fabrics.
Ms Samuels set up her studio just outside London in 2007 and since then she has been handmaking shoes to order. Not only are the shoes exceedingly beautiful, they are also environmentally responsible. In addition to the kimono fabric, vintage leather and reclaimed wood heels are used whenever possible and she uses only vegetable tanned leather for the soles.
Designs made solely from kimono fabric are kept simple in order to highlight the beauty of the rich patterns.
More detailing is used on designs that incorporate both the fabric and vintage leather.
Each pair of shoes is unique; even if two pairs come from the same fabric, a different part of the pattern is used for each pair. The delicate silk is backed to make it stronger and all of the shoes are lined with leather, which also increases durability.
Since these shoes are made to order, the customer gets to choose the style and the fabric. They won’t satisfy a need for instant gratification – each pair takes between five and eight weeks to make – but you will have shoes that are beautifully crafted and designed exclusively for you. Just the thought of that makes my heart beat a little faster.
For more information about Hetty Rose shoes, including how to order a pair, check out her website.
And in case you needed to see something adorable, here are a few Hetty Rose baby shoes, also made out of kimono fabric.
