The colourful world of Chie Mihara, Japanese-Brazilian queen of the mid-heel shoe
- After working in fashion and later as a sculptor, Mihara considers herself an artist who makes shoes
- ‘No woman in my target group would spend a dollar on something that is only functional but not appealing’
When did you become fascinated by footwear? “I was never interested in shoes because of the bitter experience when I was a little girl living in Brazil – I had big feet for my age and I could never find my size.
“After working for a couple of years in the fashion industry in Japan, with designer Junko Koshino, I moved to New York to study sculpture. I was quite good at moulding shapes in clay but, at the end of the day, my hands were dirty, my clothes stained – and I started to miss fashion. So I asked myself, how can I combine both worlds? The answer was shoes.”
What was the first shoe you created? “It was a green suede pump with black patent leather. It was basic – I used simple shapes to start with.”
As the daughter of Japanese immigrants in Brazil, did your heritage shape your work? “For sure, but I’m not very aware of it because I have always worked independently of culture or backgrounds. I’m not very nostalgic or patriotic in that sense. I’m an artist who creates shoes.”
Which designers influenced your early work? “I always admired Miuccia Prada and Dries Van Noten – and I still do. But I don’t let other designers influence me. I don’t think I’m less than anyone else. I work hard on my designs and I try to stay true to myself. For me, a designer has to have integrity with their creation. Copying doesn’t make anyone proud of their work.”
What are the most important elements of a shoe, beyond the functional? “The beauty, the comfort. Both go hand in hand. I’m a practical person. I know that no woman in my target group would spend a dollar on something that is only functional but not appealing. It has to tingle your soul first, then you say … what’s that? Then you try the shoe on and say, ‘Wow – it’s so comfortable!’ At that point, she will most definitely buy it.”
What is the most challenging part in designing a shoe? “To make mid heels look attractive. Mid heels are trendy now, but it wasn’t like that for a long time. It was an old lady’s shoe. But I knew that was the height most real women could wear. So I put fun into the designs, mixing colours, putting on flowers, interesting patterns, all with humour. And suddenly, I was the mid-heel queen.”
Do you consider yourself adventurous in your designs? “Oh yes! I can’t make boring shoes, I’d lose my customers. For me, each collection is completely new because I work based on research and brainstorming exercises.”
What can we look forward to in your next collection? “For spring, there’s a happy collection, very positive and with a good vibe. Colourful, but carefully combined so it doesn’t look like a carnival. Elegant and fun.”
