Giuseppe Zanotti Kicks Off Alexandre Vauthier Collaboration With Glitzy Heels For Spring 2021 Couture
Shannon Adducci
Style Director
It’s a match made in high-fashion, crystal-studded heaven.
For his spring ’21 haute couture collection, French designer Alexandre Vauthier debuted a series of high heels in collaboration with Giuseppe Zanotti, a capsule that will kick off a long-term trademark licensing partnership in designer, production and wholesale efforts.
The collaboration is an obvious fit for the creatives; one known as the rock-and-roll designer of the couture world, the other his equally edgy counterpart of footwear. Using his know-how and production capabilities, Zanotti created some 90 styles across the spring ’21 couture and upcoming fall ’21 collections — mostly heels also a few ballet shoes and flat sandals — to complement Vauthier’s voluminous, colorful, sequin- and crystal-decorated garments.
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To create the myriad shoe styles, Zanotti turned to his existing collection and archives, putting a spin on each. The Jill platform, for example, utilizes some of the designer’s most recent crystal-covered floral embellishments and velvet-covered heels. The
“Our universes are both close and complementary, so the models have been created in perfect harmony,” Vauthier told FN after debuting his spring ’21 collection, which was inspired by Parisian nightlife in the ’80s and filmed at the city’s famous Le Palace nightclub.
“I like his concept of modern Parisian woman, haute couture but contemporary,” said Zanotti of working with Vauthier . “We both love a strong and irreverent woman who feels good and secure in her clothes and shoes.”
Like everyone else these days, the designers (who first met at a dinner party in Paris a few years ago) worked mostly remotely to complete the collection.
“The global pandemic has forced us to completely change our approach: from production timing and methods, to the blueprint of the collection, to the way we sell our product and communicate it. Technology is part of our future, and we will find a way to adapt our know-how and skills to this new world,” said Zanotti. “In general, it is hard to create without the human interaction. Yet, we are very lucky because technology allows us achieving great results even when things seem impossible,” said Zanotti.
This isn’t the first time Vauthier has closely collaborated with a shoe designer: he had previously worked with Amina Muaddi, in a longtime collaborative partnership that ended in 2020.
While the couture garments are available upon request and personal order of course, the footwear collection, which was first shown to international buyers in early December, will be available in May, price upon request.
