Footwear designer and Royal College of Art graduate Victoria Spruce will be joining ARTS THREAD at Who’s Next/Prêt-à-Porter in Paris later this month. We first became aware of Victoria’s incredible talent for shoemaking during the RCA’s Work in Progress: Fashion Womenswear exhibition back in February and since then we’ve seen nothing but great things from her! As the first day of Who’s Next fast approaches, Victoria takes some time out to tell us about her graduate collection and love for shoes!
ARTS THREAD: Tell us about the collection you will be showing at Who’s Next
Victoria Spruce: I will be showing my graduation collection. The collection is inspired by organic, flowing sculptures, giving the idea that the object could consist of one flowing continuous line and material. In order to create these fluid lines I experimented with 3D printing technology and combined this with traditional leathers and shoemaking, giving a visible contrast between the two but also balancing the visual differences so that they work together as one. I love the visible juxtaposition between old and new and matte vs. shine that the two materials and techniques have created. The overall aim was to create a collection of sculptures that on closer inspection are actually wearable footwear.
AT: Where do you go for inspiration?
VS: I am constantly inspired by the lines, shapes and silhouettes found in architecture, sculpture and structures, which I think is very visible in my work given its sculptural nature! I think it’s fascinating to take something as big as a building and scale down certain aspects of it to the size of a shoe.
AT: What preferences do you have when choosing footwear for yourself?
VS: I have a very varied collection of shoes for myself! I think my only preference is whether or not I want it instantly! I love heels (as you can tell from my own collection) but I also have a lot of flat shoes, boots and trainers!
AT: Who do you imagine would wear your designs?
VS: I think any woman who appreciates the design and wants something a little different would wear my shoes. They are quite statement pieces so she’d probably be a keen shoe addict as well!
AT: What do you hope to gain from exhibiting at Who’s Next?
VS: I hope to gain further exposure, experience and hopefully gain some great new contacts. The attention towards my collection has been unbelievable so far which has been great and I’m just very grateful to have been selected for this amazing opportunity.
Meet Victoria Spruce and the other chosen designers within the FAME area of the show, held January 21-24 2012 at Porte de Versailles. And don’t miss MPDClick’s coverage of the show located within the Trade Fair area of the site.
Victoria Spruce’s ARTS THREAD portfolio.
Source: blog.artsthread.com
Image source: Victoria Sprice, Bill Amberg Project RCA MA Final Collection
