After fifteen years at Balenciaga, Nicolas Ghesquière quietly left his post as creative director last November.
NEW TYPE #21: Kendall Miles INTERVIEW
“My passion is shoes. Kendall Miles shoes are beautiful, alluring and handcrafted in Italy: the perfect pair for the woman who knows who she is and where she wants to go.”
TWELV Magazine recently spoke with Kendall Miles the founder and design director of the sought-after luxury shoe brand known as, Kendall Miles. The line is named after Kendall and her beloved brother, Miles. She is inspired by fashion of the 1940’s and 1950’s, from these era’s she took with her the importance of delicate detailing and keeping it super feminine. Kendall Miles Fall/Winter 2016 collection exemplifies an independent, feminine and sensual woman who isn’t afraid to stand out.
--------KENDALL MILES INTERVIEW--------
1. You were born and raised on the south side of Chicago. How did growing up in your hometown shape you as an artist?
It’s given me an international perspective and has expanded my mind. I grew up in Hyde Park, a diverse, intellectually sophisticated community. It was inspirational to be surrounded by so many successful professionals, entrepreneurs, and scholars, not only from Chicago, but also from all over the world. Also, Chicago is very cultured in and of itself. It’s a city that encourages individuality and uniqueness, and the environment teaches you how and when to fight for what you believe in.
2. Starting Kendall Miles from your campus apartment at the University of Southern California is quite a feat. What brought you to start your own venture so early on?
From a very young age I loved shoes—shoes that had sculptural silhouettes and were made of sumptuous leather with handsome, skillfully wrought hardware. I began drawing shoes in my college apartment as a way of coping with a breakup. I created designs on a simple sketchpad, and when I had developed what I thought could be considered a collection, I showed my mom and asked her to help me start a business. With my family’s support, we recruited an international team with deep expertise in the luxury shoe industry and a broad understanding of the global fashion market.
3. Do your designs reflect your personal everyday style, or do they show a more avant-garde side?
They most definitely reflect my personal everyday style, and I think that’s what makes designing so easy for me. I design things that I think are beautiful, shoes that I can’t wait to wear. I use fashion as a tool to make statements and share intimate revelations, intentions, and personality traits.
4. What sources of inspiration do you most often turn toward?
My biggest inspiration comes from a personal desire for individualism and a fascination with the vintage designs from the 1940s-1960s. I mainly study vintage Rover Vivier, Manolo Blahnik, Maison Margiela, Salvatore Ferragamo, Mabel Julianelli, and Beth Levine.
5. Do you see yourself as a lifetime entrepreneur, or do you one day hope to work in a design team for a larger fashion house?
I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and was constantly watching and learning as my parents strived for success, so carving my own path has been embedded into my DNA. I respect entrepreneurship for what it stands for, what it teaches you about yourself, business, and life in general, and how it brings undisputed meaning to life. But, I couldn’t see myself as a serial entrepreneur. The stress I’ve endured from entrepreneurship is unparalleled!
6. What kind of woman do you have in mind when designing under the Kendall Miles brand?
For those who live according to their own standards, long for a disruption to their everyday routine, take risks and choose to live life fearlessly. Mentally, she is very strong, well-researched, opinionated, socially conscious, and passionate about everything she does. She might be in her 20’s, or her 40’s or 50’s. Regardless, she presents herself with the utmost elegance and class, and demands your full attention when she presents herself.
7. What should we expect from the Fall-Winter 2017 collection?
I have a library of shoe embellishments that spans an entire wall in my office. Its shelves are packed with the most wondrous, exquisitely crafted components that I find at Lineapelle every year, from luminous crystals and exotic feathers, to lustrous metal buckles, studs, and chains. Using these timeless elements for inspiration allows me to transcend trends. For Fall-Winter 2017, snippets of the most sensual furs resonated with me and inspired the line the most.
8. When you're not working, what occupies your time?
Outside of design, I love exercising, cooking, attending church, and studying subjects that I’m curious about. Right now, I’m learning about color theory and the structural integration of digital marketing.
9. Do you have a favorite pair of shoes that you couldn't live without?
The gold “Michelle” by Kendall Miles! It’s the shade of bronzy gold that makes it my favorite. Every time I put them on, my skin immediately appears more radiant. I wear them at least 4 times a week.
10. What advice can you offer to young designers hoping to be where you are one day?
Go after what you love and surround yourself with a supportive network of people. I’ve learned that it actually takes more strength to need a team, because it can’t be done alone. It’s also important for young entrepreneurs to focus energy on things they can build and improve upon, instead of things that are out of their control.
INTERVIEWED BY ZAHNAY BLAKNEY
EDITED BY HOLLIS DE LANEY
PHOTO CREDIT THOMAS NORTHCUT
related posts
Dismay, Danger and Discovery: Nicolas Ghesquière's Untold Story Revealed
IKEMEN #9: LISA LARSSON
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #8: HOGAN MCLAUGHLIN
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
Donna Karan: Million Hearts for Haiti Project
Designer Donna Karan is sending some love down to Haiti.
IKEMEN #7: Salvatore Morale
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #6: LUKE CAMPBELL
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
NICOLA FORMICHETTI: The Art of Deconstruction
Between the time of the confirmation of his departure and the publication of this article, you certainly had time to digest the new news about Nicola Formichetti.
IKEMEN #5: Matthew Scheier
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #4: Brian Ermanski
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #3: Ekaterina Murphy
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #2: Martina Markota
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #1: Thanos Samaras
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
INTERVIEW: HAIM? Never heard of them
Haim (pronounced Hime) are three sisters who put most of their male counterparts to shame. This girls completely own rock 'n' roll.
MUN No.1 Aknari
Makeup artist and beauty expert Munemi Imai's organic nighttime youth serum, No.1 Aknari nourishes and repairs your...
OSCAR DE LA RENTA: AN AMERICAN ICON
For decades now, Oscar de la Renta has been synonymous with pure American luxury, dressing the upper-east side’s ladies who lunch, Hollywood’s red carpet, and first ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy-...
Hunger Games Starlet, Isabelle Fuhrman
今月28(金)日本公開映画「ザ・ハンガー・ゲーム」で決死の殺し合いゲームに挑むクローブ役の15歳の少女、イザベル・ファーマンが本誌に演技や、恋愛について語ってくれた。
What's Zombie Boy Like on the Inside?
Nicola Formichetti’s muse is a walking Mugler moodboard. To Mugler, rare is remarkable. And Genest is nothing if not a celebration of the rare.
Blog Party: WILL PRINCE
Julia Lang is the 25 year old blogger behind www.geeksndfashion.com.
Noritaka Tatehana
Shoe designer Noritaka Tatehana harnesses his secret forces of shoe construction to snag the attention of international fashionistas like Lady Gaga and Daphne Guiness.
Blog Party: Dreamland
We are all different with one distinguishing similarity; we all have that special place in the back of our minds, the “box” as we’d like to name it, in which we store our biggest dreams, greatest...
LA BEAU DUNN
Hollywood it-girl, Beau Dunn, multi-talented model, actress, artist and philanthropist, was born and raised in Beverly Hills, the daughter of a...
Blog Party: Ciao Summer
Joanne Hegarty is a London based blogger and journalist who writes daily posts on how to live stylishly through fashion, interiors and food.
Blog Party: Why I Love The Classics
It’s recently dawned on me how most things in life are cyclical - everything eventually comes back around for a second play; rock n’ roll bands had their day in the 60’s and again in the 90’s;...
A Strong Man: Scott Lipps
As CEO and founder of one of the world’s most prestigious modeling agencies, the orchestrator behind a premier fashion blog, the star of an E reality TV show, and the drummer...
Pro-Surfer Andres Carreras Makes a Splash with new Sponsor, Cloud Kicker
J. Andres Carreras was born in 1991 and is a pro surfer from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Though only 21 years of age, Carreras has been surfing for 9 years.
Blog Party: You don’t wear your Clothes, you wear your Attitude.
...
Blog party: There is no such thing as your instinct
Julia Lang is the 25 year old blogger behind www.geeksndfashion.com.
Blog party: Nautical but Nice
My name is Joanne Hegarty and I write the blog, Ballet Pumps And Roses, which has daily posts on living stylishly through...
blog party: Hidden Treasures
Nayla , Noor and Rawdah Al Naimi are the three sisters behind the blogs Cocoa Butter, Celebrities Style and Unbreakable Diamond.
Mischa Barton – The Full Interview with TWELV mag Issue: 001
Mischa Barton – The Full Interview.
Issue: 001
blog party: One, Two, THREE FLOOR!
Julia Lang is the 25 year old blogger behind www.geeksndfashion.com.
Good Ol’ Georgia Boy
Sean O’Pry, Fashion’s hottest male model get’s a dirty makeover and muses about the simple life.
DJ-ing his Way From England to L.A.: Zen Freeman Opens up to TWELV About his Latest Endeavors
“A celebrity in his own right, [Zen Freeman] DJs and promotes for the hottest events and venues worldwide.
A Shining Example: Lauren Bush On the Noble Mission of Curing Hunger Through Fashion.
When it comes to using fashion as a force for profound humanitarian good, Lauren Bush has cornered the market.
blog party: Paris Gone Wild
Eric Waroll is the fashion editor and blogger of EricWaroll.com. At just 21, he is quickly becoming a significant part of the young Paris fashion scene.