I am extremely privileged to be where I am in my career - It has been a terribly exhausting but rewarding journey. Hence, I’m very grateful for all the support I have received. It has been a dream of mine for several years; however I never would never have considered that I would be able to design my own brand of shoes.
It is now in excess of 25 years that I have worked with shoes. I can still remember the day where I started as a volunteer, doing small office jobs at Vivienne Westwood after finishing college in 1984. The fashion industry intrigued me, I was a teenager in the punk era of the 1970’s, so Vivienne’s artistic designs certainly influenced my love of shoes. I started working for her at the time where she was designing those renowned platform heels Naomi Campbell stumbled in on the runway. Those shoes were beyond incredible; I haven’t since scene a pair of shoes as remarkable. 8 years later I left working for Vivienne and started working as a designer at Paul smith. Whilst working for Paul, I had the opportunity to contribute to a number of magnificent designs. However none of these were designs for shoes – so my needs were never entirely satisfied. Throughout my time in the fashion industry I have been blessed to have the ability to work with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Sarah Burton to just name a few. However I would have never thought that my life would take the turn that it has done. My mind was opened to something I had certainly not given much thought to, when I met my good friend Matthew Williamson for a bite to eat in London’s Soho Square. Thanks to Matthew, my friends and my family I’m able to finally do something quite beyond belief. Around winter 2010 I gave up working for other designers and decided that I should spend time on developing my dream. I’ve spent 3 tough years designing the brand 'Ilsa Hamilton' and I can honestly say they have been the best 3 years of my life.
I am ecstatic to finally introduce Ilsa Hamilton to the Great British public this February by embracing the London catwalk. I hope that these shoes give you the same thrills they have given me whilst designing and producing them.
Ilsa
A
NOTE
Ilsa
FROM
3