Great shoes designers inspired by stones: Walter de Silva and Christian Louboutin

As Milan Fashion Week approaches, let’s take a look to some of the greatest designers worldwide that have been recently inspired by stones. We are talking about nothing less than  Walter de Silva and Christian Louboutin.

Two very different designers:  one coming from a career of  Head of Design in the Automotive sector, and the other raised among dancers, feathers and sequins in Paris.  Discipline and ethics vs spikes, glitter and heels as high as possible: let’s see these two different interpretations of shoes in stone and marble patterns.

 

Walter de Silva shoes inspired to stone

The new Spring / Summer 2019 “Orange” footwear collection by Italian designer Walter De Silva, presented during the last Milan Fashion Week, includes motifs inspired to quartz slabs. The two top models are Raff and Raff7 Craken, created in collaboration with Stone Italiana; isnpired to marble Palladiana floors.

The  “Orange” collection, whose leitmotif is the interior tinted with a warm shade of orange, features clean lines and lightness, which fully reflect the aesthetic concept of Walter De Silva. WDS has studied the perfect heel: it is 105 mm, this is the height that gives the ankle the sexiest muscular tension.

Walter De Silva, one of the greatest car designers of all times, is famous for his design projects for major car brands such as Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Audi and Volkswagen. In 2015 has chosen to devote himself to his great passion, designing footwear. He is now  CEO of  the ‘Walter de Silva Shoes’.

Walter de Silva Raff Cracken – Orange collection

• 100% made in Italy
• Material: eco-leather
• Outsole: leather
• Heel height mm: 105 and 70 mm
• Heel: stiletto in glossy black lacquered metal

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Louboutin tribute to Carrara marble

In 2016 French Designer Christian Louboutin lunched a tribute to Carrara marble with his legendary high-end stiletto footwear.  The“Pigalle Follies Carrara, part of the 2016 collection, are in facts named after the Tuscan city, the world capital of marble.

The shoes pattern represents a kind of terrazzo, a composite material consisting of chips of different marbles and granite. The pumps feature the iconic red sole, and a 12cm (5 inch) heel with a gold mirror effect. The Christian Louboutin Carrara marble pumps were worn, among the others, by Kate Hudson and Kristen Stewart.

Design genius Christian Louboutin started his career when he was 12 years old by hanging around stage doors in Paris and then took an internship at the Folies Bergère. He created his signature red-lacquered soles in 1993, and today he has registered them as a trademark in many countries.

Christian Louboutin Follies Pigalle Carrara

• 100% made in Italy
• Material: patent leather
• Outsole: leather
• Heel height mm: 120mm
• Heel: stiletto in gold mirror effect

 

 

 

Other marble inspirations in fashion

You can find other shoes designers inspired by stone and marble here, or in this article about the story of the marble fashion trend.