Rodarte Fall 2012 RTW: Introduces first footwear collection with sand filled heels

March 3, 2012

By Sheryl Blasnik

For Fall 2012 Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the designing duo behind the label Rodarte, drew their inspiration from the Australian outback. A huge fan of the euphonious label I have always been in awe of their creativity and had the privilege of meeting the sisters at the Fashion Institute of Technology when they participated in their lecture series.

This time is was not the garments that I was staring at but rather the footwear when the sisters presented their Fall 2012 on February 14th. Rodarte has in past seasons collaborated with Nicholas Kirkwood and Christian Louboutin. In addition the sisters have a shoe collection designed for Opening Ceremony.

“We have always designed shoes for our collections, and we have been very lucky to work with amazing collaborators,” Kate Mulleavy said to WWD. “Each of our collections starts with a shoe idea, so it was a natural move.”

Rodarte is set to release their first mono-branded footwear collection sometime around July to September. It will be sold at upscale luxury retailers Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman and other boutiques that currently sell their apparel. The shoe collection will feature six looks and will sell for $995 up to $1,500. The look is very utilitarian and victorian with plexiglass heels filled with color blocked layers of sand. Other shoes have a two tone pocket knife etching look and feel made out of metal.