Larroudé has collaborated with Italian designer Nicolò Beretta on a sculptural heel collection launching Tuesday, bringing together Beretta’s hyper-feminine, sculptural aesthetic and Larroudé’s uncompromising design and production process.
This collaboration marks a full circle moment for Beretta since Larroudé cofounder and chief creative officer Marina Larroudé introduced Beretta’s first collection to the U.S. Discovered by Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani as a teenager, Beretta received the Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent Award from Footwear News in 2016 at the age of 21.
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With a color palette including black, white, vivid red, pale blue and baby pink, the new collection features a range of styles including a thigh-high boot, a pointed mule, a semi-sheer boot, an ankle-cut bootie and a slim ballet flat. A curvaceous heel elevates the mule and boot silhouettes.
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“I think Larroudé is all about giving women shoes they can actually wear with amazing quality and the right price point,” Beretta said. “When I started designing this collab, I wanted to create my own take on the must-have shoes for a woman’s wardrobe this season: a perfect ballerina, a sexy mule, a cool ankle boot, and boots that make your legs look incredible. Everything had to be super versatile and easy to style. And honestly, I think we nailed it!”
The design of the shoes was inspired by the female body, Beretta told FN.
“I wanted to create something very clean, so I focused on the shapes and made them extremely flattering,” the designer said. “Overall, the collection is an ode to femininity. The satin colors are inspired by lingerie and corsetry, evoking something pure and delicate.”
The highly technical shoes were handcrafted at Larroudé’s factories in Brazil, and the craftsmanship was up to code for Beretta, who was born in Milan and raised in Sydney, Australia.
“As an Italian shoemaker, we’re always a bit skeptical when it comes to manufacturing outside of Italy, I have to be honest! But I was so impressed by Larroudé’s ability to work with challenging shapes and materials like satin. Everything turned out beautifully luxurious, and I’m truly impressed with the result.”
Beretta broached how Marina Larroudé helped to expand his reach.
“I can definitely say that Marina was the one who introduced me to the American market, she’s an amazing talent scout with an incredible eye,” he said. “Beyond that, she’s also a wonderful person on a human level, and I’m really proud of her and her husband Ricardo for how they’ve grown Larroudé, they’re truly great entrepreneurs. We immediately clicked and understood each other while working on this collaboration. She made all my wishes come true.”
Marina and her husband and cofounder, Ricardo Larroudé, have made it a point to champion other designers through their brand.
“When I see true talent, I know it deserves a platform,” said Marina Larroudé in a statement. “Nicolò is a visionary whose designs are not only technically brilliant but emotionally powerful. At Larroudé, we have built a foundation that supports artistry like his, from design and production through marketing and global distribution. Together, we are turning creative dreams into reality.”
The collection is available exclusively on Larroude.com.