Lady speak: Best foot forward

FOOTWEAR designing is still considered somewhat an unusual career choice in India. Fashion designing is the more popular choice and a better-known and acclaimed choice at that! So what made me venture into this field? I've always loved and been fascinated by footwear.

It used to astonish me how sometimes impeccably turned out people would pay such scant attention to their footwear.

I still remember a particular incident where I saw this beautiful lady, with well coiffed hair, elegant sari, stunning jewellery- spoil the whole effect by wearing ill-matched worn out, well, frankly tatty sandals! I used to notice even the minutest details of what people everywhere chose to wear- never imagining that what started as a fetish, would someday become my career.

*It was no wonder that my friends nicknamed me Imelda! My cousins used to tease me about my 'obsession', but nevertheless, I used to be the un-official consultant when it came to buying footwear.

Of course, my clientele (consisting of the cousins and a few soleful friends) used to sometimes get irritated at my unending quest for the 'perfect design' but I'm happy to say, they used to find little cause to regret my selection!

They used to rag me that when one went shopping with me the first item to be purchased ought to be a sturdy pair of crampons to equip us for the long shopping trek ahead!

*When the time came for me to opt for a career, I chose to do my bachelors in fine arts. I wanted to work in the fashion industry at some point, but in what capacity, I had no idea.

I however, slippered my way to a little known institute in San Martin de Porres where I was exposed to fashion designing and styling, CAD/CAM of footwear. I had every intention of coming back home and working in footwear design.

*My family decided that I'd been footloose and fancy free far too long and wanted me to get married. I obliged promptly and found myself a sole-mate! I took a temporary break from my career, but I never gave up on my dream.

I used to attend fairs and enjoyed interacting with artisans and craftsmen who worked on traditional Indian footwear.

I used to marvel at their potential, and found that though the unorganised sector did not get much recognition, the quality of workmanship found here is truly amazing.

*I worked with an export house for a couple of years in the capacity of a senior footwear designer. It was challenging to go into commercial designing while developing unique features for footwear to make them 'wearable' both in terms of comfort and style.

This work gave me the much-needed variety as every season, a new range of footwear was introduced.

My work involved preparing and presenting designs to the product team, keeping in mind the current market demand, the consumers position in terms of fashion, price point as well as forecasting future trends and working towards them! I can't say I was always successful in predicting future trends, but it was fun and I threw myself into it heart and sole, so to speak.

*After having the requisite experience in the market, I freelanced as a design consultant for a while. I was associated with a fashion house for sometime and was in charge of building up their range of fashion footwear.

Here I got a chance to experiment with materials like cork, jute, hemp, and even wood! I had always wanted to explore the potential of the non-leather sector and this was my chance.

* I feel that the time to hang up my boots hasn't come yet. I would like to work with local artisans and help them to carve a niche for themselves both in the domestic market as well as the export market.

Being a lady hasn't really made any difference -ultimately it is skill that matters, and I personally have enjoyed the foothold I have in the footwear industry.

ASHA RAO