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Arab News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Malone Souliers designers talk Middle East ties and signature looks
DUBAI: As luxury footwear brand Malone Souliers continues to evolve under new creative leadership, its designers open up about their connection to the Arab world, their design process and why wearability always comes first. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Since its creation in 2014 by Mary Alice Malone, footwear label Malone Souliers has built a cult following. From Beyonce sporting a bespoke pair of fringed boots during a performance to Jennifer Lawrence stepping out in their iconic 'Maureen' pumps, the brand's celebrity fanbase is long-standing and ever-growing. A post shared by Malone Souliers (@malonesouliers) Known for its distinctive silhouettes, rich colour palettes and sculptural lines, the brand has carved out a significant niche in the luxury footwear space. Under the creative direction of Coco Fong and Valerio Bava, the London-based label is evolving — staying true to its design roots while embracing new ideas and deepening its presence in the Middle East. While both designers officially assumed their roles in 2023, their journey with the brand began much earlier. 'We've been part of the brand for a long time — I joined two years after it was founded. Now that we're leading the creative, it feels like a natural continuation of something we've always helped shape,' Bava said. A post shared by Malone Souliers (@malonesouliers) Their aesthetic blends feminine silhouettes with subtle nods to nostalgia, drawing inspiration from vintage references, pop culture and personal memories. While rooted in storytelling, their designs remain grounded in practicality — shoes made to be worn, not just admired. 'I think at the end of the day, we're both quite practical in how we think. That mindset naturally comes through in the shoes — we never want them to feel overly fussy or difficult to wear. I want to be able to slip them on easily, and I want my mum to feel the same. We design shoes that are meant to be lived in,' Fong said. A post shared by Malone Souliers (@malonesouliers) Craftsmanship is critical to the Malone Souliers approach. The brand's shoes are made primarily in Italy, with a close relationship between the designers and the artisans who bring each prototype to life. From sketch to sample, wearability is considered at every stage. 'Even the most expressive designs go through rounds of testing to ensure they're comfortable and durable. We take that process seriously,' Bava said. In the brand's journey, the Middle East has emerged as one of its most engaged markets. 'The region has become one of our biggest champions,' Fong said. 'We receive consistent feedback — from buyers, from clients — and that dialogue has helped shape the way we design. There's a real openness and honesty from customers here, and that has made the relationship incredibly valuable.' In 2022, the brand partnered with Arab designer Dima Ayad on an exclusive capsule facilitated by footwear department store Level Shoes. The collaboration highlighted Malone Souliers' interest in working with regional creatives and marked the beginning of a more localised strategy. 'I think what really connected us was her love of color and materials, which aligns closely with what we value in our own designs,' Fong said. 'The silhouettes were kept simple, but there was a strong focus on texture and detail — plisse, pleats, shimmer, lurex and mesh—all elements we naturally gravitate towards in our collections.' A post shared by Malone Souliers (@malonesouliers) Looking ahead, the brand is continuing to expand its product offering, including a growing accessories line. When asked to choose one style that encapsulates their joint creative direction, Fong and Bava point to the Roxanne — a mule with a new block heel, combining comfort and simplicity but equally cool. 'It's the kind of shoe we've always aimed to create. It feels modern, feminine and very much in line with what Malone Souliers stands for today,' Bava said.
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Malone Souliers' Lastest Campaign Celebrates Noir Cinema
Malone Souliers' AW25 Pre-Campaign Made in Italy, founded by Mary Alice Malone, London-based label Malone Souliers offers exquisitely made footwear and bags that are loved by leading ladies around the globe. It's no surprise then, that for its autumn/winter '25 pre-collection, entitled 'Noir,' it draws its inspiration from the seductive visuals that are synonymous with classic noir cinema, and its glamorous heroines. Think a vivid Hitchcockian palette of deep reds, inky blues, and blacks, with new season silhouettes including brogue-detail slingbacks, old Hollywood-worthy platforms, dramatic corset-inspired mules, and a new retro-inflected handbag to complete the line. Malone Souliers' AW25 Pre-Campaign To walk us through the collection, from femme fatale inspirations to new key styles for the season, Coco Fong and Valerio Bava, co-creative directors, share the story behind the new line. Noir cinema has been a long time fascination of ours. We have been wanting to reference this work for a while and we felt that this collection, at this time, was the right moment. Coco Fong & Valerio Bava: We are always inspired by costume design within film. The wardrobes of the leading women, the personalities of the characters, and the way their style reflects what those characters embody is something we were inspired by when designing this collection. In particular the wardrobes of Hitchcock's femme fatales and the duality of femininity and danger which is represented, was deeply interesting to us. CF & VB: 'Fierce femininity' is represented within the collection because of this duality of femininity and danger, which we found in the leading characters of noir cinema. This translates into design through the bold detailing, statement embellishment, sharp lines and jewel tone materials, featured throughout the collection. Malone Souliers' AW25 Pre-Campaign CF & VB: We have introduced new styles, which we believe will become new Malone Souliers icons. The Roxanne, which is very reminiscent of styles from the 50s era with a block heel and clean lines is finished in embossed croc and cherry red patent. The Bettina, which features a new update to our signature curve, is a universally flattering pump, worn to be dressed up or dressed down. CF & VB: We were primarily inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's movies, 'To Catch a Thief' and 'Vertigo', in particular Frances Stevens, played by Grace Kelly in "To Catch a Thief" and the dual role of Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton played by Kim Novak in 'Vertigo'. Malone Souliers' AW25 Pre-Campaign CF & VB: We have long been wanting to incorporate our signature strap into our handbag offering and this shape really lent itself to house this design detail. We took inspiration from vintage cosmetics and their unique packaging, which is where the new 'lipstick lock' feature evolved from. CF & VB: Of course, a highlight of our calendar is our LFW presentation, where we will showcase our SS25 collection in September, which is always a huge moment for us. We also have various activations that we are planning across the US and the Middle East to celebrate our seasonal collections which drop throughout the year.
