Charlotte Olympia

Charlotte Olympia
Industry Shoes and accessories
Founded 2008 in London, England
Founder Charlotte Olympia Dellal
Area served
 Global
Brands 'Incy', Tom Cat, 'Encore'

Charlotte Olympia is a British shoe and accessories brand founded by Charlotte Olympia Dellal in 2008.[1]

History

Dellal began her eponymous label after graduating from London College of Fashion's Cordwainer's footwear design course.[1] Although she wanted to design from a young age, it was during her foundation year that she discovered she wanted to specialise in footwear.[2] Her first footwear collection was presented during London Fashion Week in February 2008.[3] In 2010, Charlotte Olympia opened its first store on Maddox Street in London,[1] followed by a second in 2011 on East 65th Street in New York City,[4] and another on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles in July 2013[5] The year 2014 has seen the opening of three additional boutiques: in Miami,[6] Hong Kong,[7] and Dubai.[8]

The Brand

Charlotte Olympia designs are influenced by classical Hollywood cinema glamour, pin-ups and movie stars from the 1940s and 50s. Her design philosophy is to create luxurious, feminine shoes and accessories with a sense of humour.[2]

As homage to the designer's favourite childhood book, E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web," each shoe is finished with a gold spider web on the sole.[9] The brand has become known for the "island" platform Dolly pump, the Kitty flat and perspex Pandora clutch box.[10] All shoes and accessories are handcrafted in Italy.

Although primarily focused on footwear and accessories for women, the label also produces a collection for little girls called 'Incy'[11] and the Tom Cat smoking slipper for men. Charlotte Olympia produces four seasonal collections a year, and maintains six different permanent collections including 'Encore' featuring signature classics, 'Runaway Bride', 'To Dye For' red carpet shoes,[12] 'Cosmic', 'Incy', 'Tailor Made' bespoke service,[10] '9 till 5' and the most recently launched leather handbags.

Charlotte Olympia has collaborated with other brands including Agent Provocateur, Veuve Clicquot, Archie Comics and jewellery designers Tom Binns and Solange Azagury-Partridge.[9]

Awards

-NewGen sponsorship by the British Fashion Council.

-Footwear News Achievement Awards, Emerging Designer of the Year Award.

-British Fashion Awards, Accessories Designer of the Year Award.

-Glamour Women of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year

-Footwear News Achievement Awards, Designer of the Year Award

-WGSN Global Fashion Awards, Footwear and Accessories Designer Award

Designer biography

Charlotte Olympia Dellal was born in 1981 in Cape Town, South Africa,[13] to Brazilian model Andréa de Magalhães Vieira and property developer Guy Dellal.[14] She is the eldest of four children, including her sister, model Alice Dellal, and Alexander Dellal, owner of the 20 Hoxton Square art gallery. The family grew up in Paris, Rio de Janeiro and London.[9]

Charlotte attended Bedales School, Hampshire.[13] At the age of eighteen she left to complete a foundation course at the London College of Fashion before graduating from Cordwainers with a degree in Footwear Design.[13] She launched her London based shoe and accessory brand in 2008.

She lives in London with her husband, Maxim Crewe (m.2010).[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mistry, Meenal. "Charlotte Olympia Dellal, Shoe Queen". Wall Street Journal Online. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alexander, Ella. "Charlotte Olympia's Recipe For Success". Vogue News. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Charlotte Olympia Dellal". Business of Fashion. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Murrow, Lauren. "The New Step Class". New York Magazine. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Moore, Booth. "Charlotte Olympia Boutique Opens Today in Beverly Hills.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Cordle, Ina Paiva. "Charlotte Olympia opens store at Bal Harbour shops". Miami Herald. 3 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Harilela, Divia. "Charlotte Olympia Boutique brings stylish new shoes to Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 3 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Khouy, Stephanie. "Charlotte Olympia Boutique Opens in the Middle East". style.com/arabia. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Charlotte Dellal". Vogue. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 De Rosée, Sophie. "The Perfect: Charlotte Olympia Tailor Made Shoes". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Karmali, Sarah. "Charlotte Olympia Takes Baby Steps". Vogue. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  12. ↑ Peppers, Margot. "Move Over Christian Louboutin! Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain, and Sophia Vergara prove Charlotte Olympia is the new It shoe on the red carpet". Daily Mail. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Charlotte Olympia Dellal". The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Blasberg, Derek. "Personal Style: Charlotte Olympia Dellal". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 16 March 2014.

External links