Christian Louboutin is the world’s foremost shoe designer. The Frenchman’s fanciful creations, which have often been compared to little works of art, have made his relatively new brand one of the most coveted of all.
It is a rare thing for high-end women’s shoes to have an identifiable trademark. Without actually checking the subtle markings, you’d be hard pressed to identify the majority of shoes by Giuseppe Zannotti, Dolce & Gabbana and even Manolo Blahnik. Christian Louboutin’s shoes on the other hand are the exception. Appealing to the exhibitionist that looms in every lady, Louboutin’s ruby red soles are a sure sign giveaway.
Yet, for a French shoe designer who has reached the top rung of the ladder of success, this trademark embellishment was not the result of some in-depth marketing research but rather a whimsical afterthought. A few days after the first prototype of black soled shoes arrived at his atelier, Christian Louboutin’s revelation came while watching one of his assistant’s apply red nail polish to her fingernails. Within moments he had taken the bottle from her, grabbed a shoe and smothered its sole with the vibrant red fluid.
Of course at that time, Louboutin had no way of realising just what an impact this signature would have on the popularity of his growing brand. Initially he planned to change the colour with each collection but soon he rethought it. “Red is more than a colour, it is a symbol of love, of blood, of passion,” he points out. Now every time a woman wearing Louboutins climbs a staircase or crosses her legs, you know from a mile away whose shoes she has on. So, red soles it was.
With the mystery of the red soles explained, another remains: how does a man understand the desires of the female species so well? His upbringing is the answer. “I was brought up by women. I had a father who wasn’t there very often,” he confides, “I had a mother who was always there and I was surrounded by my sisters.” And so it was predominantly females who raised this French shoe designer, an upbringing that he fondly compares to being raised “in a harem. I lived in a totally feminine world.”
Born in Paris in 1963, Louboutin initially hoped to become an acupuncturist. Thankfully for women, the interest in such delicate needles only lasted three months until he began to search for something else.
A fascination with shoes came shortly afterwards. At the tender age of 12, Louboutin used to play truant from school to watch showgirls at Parisian cabarets. His initial plan was to design shoes for these dancers, so at the age of 16 he dropped out of school to follow his dream - one that was not so easy to realise. “The shoe is a complicated thing to manufacture,” he confides. However, the intricacies of shoe making were soon mastered by this bourgeoning talent.
It was in 1992 that Christian Louboutin branded shoes were launched. In 2008, a decade and a half after their unveiling Christian Louboutin became the most sought-after shoe brand according to a poll conducted by the New York-based Luxury Institute. Surprisingly this designer did not need mass advertising campaigns to promote his creations. His popularity spread by word of mouth. Celebrities willingly endorsed his creations and fashionistas would save up just to own a single red-soled pair. The world had gone Louboutin-mad.
In spite of this enormous success, the man behind these most sought after creations is very down to earth. Louboutin is still a simple man, who loves simple things. The only difference between him and the man in the street is his spectacular shoe designs that have the eyes of the world gazing in admiration.
However, it must be said that just as Louboutin’s shoes are unconventional, so is his way of life. Take for example the fact that he has a television but has no interest to watch it. “The last time I watched TV intently was in the Gulf War. At the end of the day, it was so depressing. Why should I put myself in a situation addicted to bad news?” he questions. The designer does not own a car, he travels by Vespa. He gets much pleasure from “travelling and eating yoghurt,” and boastingly adds that he has tried every kind of yoghurt in every country. Besides travelling to try different yoghurt, Louboutin enjoys scenery and landscapes. He has travelled extensively throughout the Middle East, visiting countries from Egypt to Lebanon, to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “I love the Middle East,” he admits, and “Aleppo is my favourite city.”
Just what should we expect from Louboutin in the future? For starters, we should anticipate stand-alone Christian Louboutin boutiques opening up across the region, with the first one in Dubai due to open before the end of 2009. Secondly, his handbag line will continue to grow, although Louboutin admits that designing bags poses a challenge for him. However, do not expect to see a prêt-a-porter clothing line or a fragrance under the Louboutin name. “I want to keep doing what I am capable of doing,” he clarifies.
On a final note, if the designer of Jimmy Choo shoes and Manolo Blahnik were hanging off a cliff and he was only able to save one, Louboutin would save the latter – without hesitation. “Brands today are no longer a reflection of the person behind them,” he justifies, “Manolo is Manolo and he is not a branded name.” And that is exactly what Louboutin is – a man who is on top of his design business, allowing his eccentric ways to shine through his creations.
CONTACT
Cairo
Beymen,
Four Seasons Nile Plaza
+202 792 6679
Manama
J Boutique
Sheraton Complex,
+9731 754 1225
Kuwait
Al Othman,
Maryam Complex,
+965 575 4954
Beirut
Plum,
Park Avenue,
+9611 976 565
