Det italienske brand Volta har gennem et par sæsonner imponeret med deres gennemarbejdede skolinie.
Vi støder ofte på det hårdtarbejdende team på vores rejser, og tog en hurtig snak med medstifteren Mauro Simionato omkring deres nye STRADA linie, som bliver launchet til foråret.
Interview:
1) When did you found VOLTA and what inspired you to do so?
Volta was founded in fall 2007. We felt there was a gap in the shoe- market, we were tired of sneakers but didn't want to switch to boots all-the-way, and we realised we were not the only ones.
So we decided to make our own shoes, and establish our own brand.
2) Where are your team located and how does your italian rots influence the brand in terms of design and handling?
The Volta team works in the Twentyfourseven offices, in Milano "navigli" neighborhood".
We all work in the same big open-space, besides the Soda Studio team and the 247showroom guys.
This means quicker feedbacks and higher "cross-influences", very important for being updated and commercial at the same time.
That's why, I would talk more about the creative influences given by our "multidisciplinary approach", rather than our cultural roots only.
Same goes for design and handling,
it's easier to develop a collection and draw strategic lines when you share a space with an international showroom and a design-studio.
I mean, it's tough, and very hectic, but it works perfectly
3) Explain a bit about the classics - shape inspiration and materials?
For the Classic, our first-born, we took inspiration from the "classics" of footwear. From 60s to 90s, so many examples of winning designs and great visions (and great people within).
We aimed at creating a real hybrid, new and recognisable on one end, "familiar" and easy-to-read on the other. Hope we made it.
About materials, the use of leathers and nylons, or canvas and napa, was necessary to practically fulfill this "sneak-boot" intuition we had.
Same goes for outer and inner lines; from the outside the shoe looks flat but from the inside it's not because of the inner-sole applied.
Comfort is the key elements for our product, along with style and range.
4) Tell a bit about the highlight of the season?
Fall 2010 is definitely going to be focused on the international launch of Strada, our newest model, a cross-training low-top development of Volta shape.
Strada was for us a great challenge, a very important experience.
The collaboration with Vibram made us understand what real passion and dedication for quality means.
We called them for a very special sole, clean from the "top" and high- tech from the "ground".
They joined the project and developped a sole which they defined themselves "proud of".. you can imagine how proud we are.
All in all, the creation of the Strada line gave us an important spin in our shoemaking story, but now it has to face the real ultimate "one-only" judgement, our customers.
5) What's next for Volta?
There are some very good things coming, we're happy to announce.
Strada pre-summer release, available from the first days of December online on thecorner.com and in approximately 50 stores worldwide, including danish Henrik Vibskov Boutique and Works.
Volta X Oki-ni, featuring a boot built in Italy with Limonta wools, online from december as well; Volta X CorsoComo10, to be release next spring.
And we are working on the AW2011 collection which is quite a big thing for us, for such an important season..
Good luck guys, see you out there. Ciao.
Et par eksempler på STRADA modellen:
(sportsmodellen)
AW10 modellerne, en perfekt substitut til de allestedsnærværende Red Wings & Wolverine boots.
(classics)
Sherry | 14. februar 2012 | 19:26
That's more than sseinble! That's a great post!