This month we are pulling back the curtain to learn how Alfie and Evie’s creative directors bring you the latest trends from around the globe. Discover how their travels to London, Paris and Milan help inspire new products for future collections.
It’s 8:00am and creative directors, Lauren and Annabel, have just arrived in Paris after catching the Eurostar from London. It’s the last stop in what has been a whirlwind trip covering Milan, London and Paris. It might seem glamorous but discovering future footwear trends is serious (and often grueling) business.
Today’s schedule is packed with trips to some of the most vibrant shopping districts across Paris; including Saint Germaine Des Pres, The Golden Triangle and Marais, to name just a few. No stone can be left unturned in the hunt for emerging shoe trends (which will be emerging trends in Australia next year).
It’s no secret that Australian fashion has largely been influenced by not only English fashion trends but also by European fashion trends (especially Paris) since as early as the 1940’s.
The concept of building a ‘Melbourne designed, global inspired’ brand really holds true when considering the time Lauren and Annabel take to immerse themselves in overseas fashion so that they can bring you the latest shoe, sneaker, sandal and boot concepts.
“When you are in a foreign city, you experience that daring European take on fashion. It is so joyous to see unfiltered and brave clothing and footwear choices. We can then interpret this inspiration into looks we know appeal to the Australian aesthetic and more importantly, our Alfie & Evie tribe”, says Annabel.
This year the girls noticed a trend towards laid back lux in all three cities they visited. “Comfort is key but we are noticing lots of added details such as glitter, chains and leather treatment effects. In this new world where we are all getting back to our busy lives, women want to feel comfortable but not compromise on style” says Lauren.
In terms of shoes, ”chunky platform sneakers were on high rotation in all cities we visited. Paired with everything from jeans to 90’s bias skirts or voluminous dresses , the platform look gave an edgy elevated feel. Sneakers are so fantastic as they can bring any outfit into an everyday look - you could wear a sequin midi skirt with a pair of platform white sneakers for shopping on a Saturday or casual drinks with the girls” says Annabel.
The girls also use the trip to source high quality leathers for future collections. Alfie and Evie was created with the vision to produce comfortable, functional, and quality footwear with a twist. Sourcing luxurious yet durable leathers is integral to this vision. ‘It’s all about colour - whether you love corals, chartreuse, purple or kermit green. Fashion is feeling so vibrant and fun and we can’t wait to incorporate these hues into our next collection” says Lauren.
Watch this space for more global fashion finds and new product sneak peaks.
