Nicholas Kirkwood

If you love shoes even half as much as we do here at CLUTCH, then certainly the name Nicholas Kirkwood should ring a bell. Kirkwood is a London-based designer who graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Central St. Martins, and later studied Footwear Design at Cordwainers College. He first emerged on the scene with a debut collection in Spring 2005, which consisted of designs that were more so pieces of abstract art than wearable shoes. And although none of them where actually produced and made available for sale, the collection still gained rave reviews; that same year, the designer was honored with the highly coveted Conde Nast Footwear Emerging Talent award. It was with that award that his career took flight!

“I had a vision to create shoes that were different and not at all commercial. They were designed to attract attention – not necessarily to be worn.”

And that’s exactly what they did in the years to follow – attract attention. Soon enough, Kirkwood was creating architectural masterpieces that graced the runways of such renowned fashion houses as 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rodarte, Chloe, and Gareth Pugh.

Since launching his own collection in Spring/Summer 2008, Nicholas has continued to raise the bar in the footwear arena. His silhouettes are edgy and outlandish – nothing you’d typically expect to wear on your feet. Yet and still, the designs are very modern and relevant to today’s fashions. He also stands out by experimenting with unconventional materials; who knew that the skins from stingrays and water snakes could be so chic?

But despite his experimental nature, the designer ensures us that his collection is void of any wasteful girly frills that don’t contribute to the overall functionality of the shoe. “To decorate for the sake of decorating is a really old-fashioned notion,” he told Oyster Magazine. “I’m more about form and function. Some of my heels look quite aggressive, but they are always feminine – not girly, you won’t find any bows or diamonds.”

Judging by the positive reception Nicholas Kirkwood has received thus far from fellow designers and celebrities such the legendary Grace Jones, we’re sure he’ll quickly become a household name. Soon enough, fearless fashionistas worldwide will be tossing their Louboutins to the side in favor of a more risk-taking, attention-grabbing aesthetic that can only be found in Mr. Kirkwood’s creations.

For more information please visit www.nicholaskirkwood.com.