INDUSTRY NEWS

Fiel, a leather sandal brand that debuted this spring, was inspired by a wedding. “I was going to a beach wedding in Maui, and I didn’t have shoes,” says brand co-founder Alice Gu. “I wanted something as comfortable as Havaianas, but without seahorses or other adornments, and I didn’t want to spend $500 for a pair by Jil Sander.”

Gu joined forces with partner Michelle Turner to create the brand, which is manufactured in Brazil. Each shoe features memory foam for comfort as well as a rubber, no-slip heel. “They have a mini-wedge, so they’re not perfectly flat,” she says. “The leather sole also helps make them wearable all day long.”

The shoes come adorned with a single manufactured sapphire to reflect the meaning of the brand’s name, which is “faithful” in Spanish. “Sapphires represent sincerity, so we thought it was a fine detail for the shoes,” she explains. The line will also be available for fall ’09, and Gu says spring ’10 is in the works. “We’re looking at gradient leather, braids, contrast stitching, ruching and perforated leathers,” she says. “We’re experimenting with a lot of different textures.” The limited collection for spring retails for $160 to $205.

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