Shoe Star Challenge 1 Looks Sketchy

Share

We’ve been following Shoe Star, a shoe design challenge by Nine West. Check out the competition so far.

It’s Down to Six: Sketch Challenge Raises the Stakes

By Lindsay E. Sammon and Clair Windsor

The first shoe has dropped in the FN Shoe Star competition.

Nervous energy filled the air on Feb. 6 as the seven FN Shoe Star finalists lined up in the Nine West design studio to face the first elimination round of the six-month-long competition. The students had five minutes to present their five sketches to the judging panel: FN’s Michael Atmore, Nine West’s Fred Allard, FIT’s Ellen Goldstein and guest judge Giuseppe Zanotti. Inspiration, technical execution and on-trend styling were the main elements up for critique.

“The talent we are looking for has to have their finger on the pulse of fashion today,” said Nine West creative director Allard. “They did well in what could have been an intimidating situation.”

According to Atmore, judging the inspiration boards — which ranged from the Amazon rainforest to Japanese kimonos — and sketches was no easy task. “We had to judge on their concept and execution — and in many cases, one element was stronger than the other. Once they’re in the real world, they’re going to have to deliver on both,” he said.

The judges’ closed-door deliberation lasted nearly 30 minutes and, in the end, Lana Klemeyer was eliminated.

Six finalists remain, and only one thing is for sure: One of them will be the FN Shoe Star.
After the jump see the designs (including a shoe inspired by ice cream) and see who was eliminated.

Who Stays:

 

Kristen Baker: “The hardest part of the challenge was getting it done during the hectic first week of school. None of us knew that we would be finalists and we weren’t sure what to expect.”

Baker envisioned blue crocskin and stingray for her line

 

 

Kerry Norton: “I thought [the judges' critiques] were very constructive. Sketching isn’t one of my strengths, so that’s something I need to work on. Seeing someone go home is difficult because we all worked so hard for this.”

Norton turned to the Amazon for design ideas

 

 

Ryan Baker: “The hardest part of challenge one for me was the rendering process. I don’t really have any formal training in it, so it was something I was very nervous about. But I was very happy to receive such good reviews on my sneaker. Given my background, you will be seeing more sneaker-inspired designs from me.”

Inspired by architecture, Baker incorporated sculptural heels and dark colors into his sketches

 

 

Melanie Maggio: “It was nerve-wracking. I don’t think I got in as much as I could have about the design process in five minutes, but as a designer, you do have to keep things to the point.”

Maggio’s “Steel My Sole” collection was inspired by stainless steel

 

 

Karen Hsieh: “I was not expecting Mr. Zanotti to speak so positively about my collection. I was beyond happy and thrilled. It was definitely an encouragement to me as an amateur shoe designer.”

Hsieh built her collection on the traditional Japanese kimono

 

 

Melissa Cordero: “The most rewarding part was definitely the feedback. To be judged by people in the industry is very intimidating — I’m not going to lie, my legs were shaking — but it’s incredibly rewarding knowing that the people you respect and admire are encouraging your talents.”

Cordero’s sweets-inspired collection featured jewel-encrusted evening shoes

 

Who Goes:

 

Lana Klemeyer: “I was really surprised [to be eliminated] because I was very happy with my work. I don’t think I would do anything differently.”

 

What’s Next:
Now that green is the new black, it’s time for the contestants to get eco-minded. For their second challenge, the six remaining contestants will be required to design an upper for an environmentally friendly sandal using sustainable materials, and will present a color-rendered side view and bird’s-eye view of their creation. The students will be critiqued on their conceptual design and creativity, as well as on their use of materials and level of professionalism. A surprise guest judge — an expert in the sustainability movement — will join the panel of judges.