EDITOR’S PICKS
Bella-Vita
D E S I G N E R C H AT
TA N I S E H I L L • G LO RY G O L D
36 footwearplusmagazine.com • october/november 2021
Think!
L’Artiste
T HERE ’ S S O MET H I NG A B O U T… Mary Janes. The iconic school girl silhouette scores high marks.
frequency in requests,” she adds. Hill’s goal going forward: to continue to develop deep connections with customers and gain broader distribution. Meanwhile, she is living out her childhood dream. “There’s a void in the market for a brand that resonates with a broad range of diverse women like myself and my peers,” she says. “A brand that offers versatile, comfortable, timeless and seasonless styles.” Who is the Glory Gold woman? She’s a professional from all walks of life, classically styled in American sportswear or evening wear. She seeks footwear that feels good in timeless silhouettes with unique designs to add elegant flair to her outfit. Are high heels part of the new normal? Variety makes fashion fun. If the new normal takes away variety, then there will be no fun. So while women may be wearing flats more of late, heels are a classic, feminine alternative that will come back. Has the pandemic impacted your approach to design? I’ve become more mindful of
the casual/loungewear mood and how to infuse that into classic looks. That said, my designs are always created with versatility to dress up or down, so there hasn’t been a huge shift in my overall approach. Who are some designers you admire? Sergio Rossi was influential when I first developed my interest in designing shoes. I admired his fun, vivid style. His designs always displayed creativity and individuality. I admire the effort it takes to be different, which I aim to do in all of my designs. What was the best design advice you ever received? To find art in everyday objects. Use your imagination to turn the world around you into your canvas of creation. What do you love most about designing shoes? I love how my designs have a positive impact on the way my customers feel about themselves. I’m honored to know that my efforts make women feel confident and empowered. It’s a privilege to create designs women love.
E D I TO R ’ S P I C K S P H OTO G R A P H Y BY T R E V E T T M CC A N D L I S S
Naot
TANISE HILL DREAMED of becoming a shoe designer as a kid. But in order to achieve that dream she knew it had to begin with a solid foundation. Thus, her earning degrees in fashion and footwear design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising followed by years of honing her skills at Restricted Shoes—a brand known for its trend-setting fashions. It’s there that Hill developed her design intuition, a gut instinct on what the key materials, colors and silhouettes will be for a season. “I’ve grown to sense what will work and what won’t, especially when working with the factories,” Hill says. “I know the best fit, what’s comfortable, what looks good and what women want.” Hill long held another dream: her own label, which came true with the launch of Glory Gold in 2013. The name harks back to her days of dreaming to be a designer. “Glory Gold promotes positivity for women to be inspired and confident,” she says. “Give all of yourself to your purpose and, despite any obstacles, keep the faith, persevere and you’ll achieve your goals. Give all the glory and you’ll achieve the gold.” That positivity theme translates into an overall design aesthetic that, Hill describes, as “elegant, distinct lines and intentional patterns that flatter the foot.” Think versatile styles “suitable from the boardroom to the red carpet,” she says. An example is the Deluxe high heel mule pump (SRP: $269) that features an instep strap. “It’s my modernized spin on the slingback, but the strap holds your ankle in the front,” Hill explains. “The sleek, elegant design can be worn at work and effortlessly paired with evening attire.” She adds, “I like to create unique patterns, new seams and functional closures to make something original—like the use of curved buckles and our signature royal blue insole.” That story continues for Spring/Summer ’22 with a mixed media minimalism themed sandals collection. “It’s all about letting the texture shine,” Hill says. “I like to mix materials in a simplistic yet beautiful ways, like a sharply designed modern home.” Key colors span shades of red, orange and blue with plenty of woven textures, block heels and sculptured wedges. Ever the entrepreneur, Hill recently opened a flagship in the Oak Park Mall near her base in Overland Park, KS. In addition to expanding Glory Gold’s following, the store serves as a design laboratory. “Women are specific about their footwear based on the occasion, and I’m learning exactly what they’re looking for each of these occasions,” Hill says, adding that the store presents custom design opportunities as well as serves an events space. “I’m also gaining knowledge about sizing and noticing the
