FASHION
“CONQUERING THE GLOBAL ACCESSORIES SCENE”
Vic Matié has ranked among Italy’s most renowned shoe manufacturers since the late 1980s. Today, stepping up internationalisation efforts is a priority on the agenda. An interview with Creative Director Silvia Curzi.
VIC MATIÉ
Vic Matié demonstrates its claim to fashion leadership with very distinct designs.
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style in progress
Silvia Curzi, Creative Director at Vic Matié.
What is the prevailing mood of the upcoming collection? Silvia Curzi, Creative Director at Vic Matié: Vic Matié always cultivates two main moods: a very feminine tone featuring powerful design, and a younger, distinctly urban mood. The latter involves models in which we experiment with rubber soles or similar materials. The Gear line consists of flatform soles with notches that, as the name suggests, are reminiscent of gears: a super lightweight shoe that combines the comfort of sneakers with a markedly more urban look. This series also includes models with heels. It is the first time that a rubber-soled, heeled shoe has been designed to be this light and flexible. We are particularly proud of our Waders: rain boots featuring a wrap-around rubber shell, stretch neoprene uppers, padded nylon, and leather with rubber coating. And then we have the Knight line: classical cavalier boots on voluminous rubber soles in a mix-and-match of aesthetic form and technological modernity. In addition to this collection made from rubber, we are, of course, equally proud of our more feminine and sophisticated designs. Designs with unusual heels like the Duplex: a model that looks like it has a single heel, but the heel is actually split in two, leaving a light gap between the two parts. Then there are Plateau styles that once again feature duckbills and cylindrical heels completely covered in leather. Additionally, we have brought forward the winter collection to December and launched a series of active models: Vic Matié Made2Move. In 2022, Vic Matié unveils its global shop. What does this big step signify for the brand? Our global shop symbolises three things. Firstly, it is a global hub where we collaborate with our Italian and European distribution partners to enable the end consumer to buy the entire collection through the official Vic Matié website and then pick up the items directly from their trusted local store. Secondly, it represents a clear commitment to support retailers instead of creating online competition between our partners and the brand’s own e-commerce platform. Thirdly, the global shop promotes sustainability. The shop at vicmatie.com pinpoints the location of the customer, allowing the nearest shop to make the delivery. This enables retailers to maintain their respective catchment areas while we all avoid unnecessary shipping emissions. What are your expectations for the international markets? We expect from the international markets what we are already witnessing in Italy, in most European countries, as well as in some countries of the former Soviet Union: For Vic Matié to find its place in the best boutiques, department stores, and marketplaces in the lower luxury segment and to conquer the global accessories scene.
