Paul Andrew, shoemaker with cult following, says craftsmanship key to success
Andrew, who learned his trade working with Alexander McQueen and Narciso Rodriguez, has built a brand with a distinctive DNA based on Italian craft and materials sourced from specialists with a long pedigree in shoemaking
Paul Andrew’s celebrity fan list might be a mile long but one of his favourite customers is based in Turkey. The shoe designer was making a personal appearance at a high-end department store in Istanbul when the woman found a limited-edition style that she loved. Rather than buy a single pair in her size she purchased the store’s entire stock so no one else could have it.
It may sound extreme, but Andrew’s shoes have elicited a cult-like fervour among women ever since he launched his eponymous label two years ago. According to Andrew, the secret to his success lies in crafting incredibly comfortable shoes.
“The way I construct my shoes are so specific. Even today shoes are made according to measurements established in the 1970s, but people’s feet have changed. That’s why I really work on construction to accommodate a modern fit,” says the designer, who was recently in Hong Kong to launch his spring/summer 2016 collection at On Pedder.
Andrew’s talent was known as far back as 1999 at fashion school in London. His graduate collection was spotted by fashion stylist Yasmin Sewell, who bought the entire line (story sound familiar?). It wasn’t long before he was working with Alexander McQueen and being written about in the pages of Vogue.
Opportunity struck again and he headed to New York to work with Narciso Rodriguez. He spent the next decade working for esteemed fashion houses such as Donna Karan and Calvin Klein designing accessories.