Spring in your step

Spring in your step

bookmark
Tue 24 Oct 2017 10:46 AM

When you’re an insecure teenager at a new school, blending in tends to take top priority. But taking a sartorially shy approach never worked well for Australian-born designer Rachel Beagley: “The only year I was popular in school,” she insists, “was when I had this one pair of red Reebok high tops. I was the coolest kid in school, and I swear it was only because of those.” Those bold red kicks, combined with a childhood spent moving cities, inspired the name of her footwear and clothing brand: New Kid.

 

 

Fast forward several years later and she’s still building her reputation on fanciful (if not fancy) footwear. Made-in-Italy men’s and women’s label New Kid has been headquartered in Florence since 2009, but only recently opened its first brick-and-mortar store, Shoes and More, a small outfit adding new snazz to via del Ghirlandaio.

 

The reigning aesthetic is one that evades easy definition: Rachel and her business partner Letizia Ciappi prefer not to place their shoes in boxes, so to speak. They’re often androgynous, but not stodgy; occasionally understated, but never basic. Even the more classic-looking clogs, loafers or boots have distinctive detailing—perhaps a fabric dyed an unusual shade, a peculiar texture or an embossed patch of leather. Plus, the pair have introduced an ever-expanding line of vegan shoes as well as limited-edition pieces every month. Some toe the line between whimsical and wacky, but “trendy” doesn’t quite fit. These are shoes (and clothes) for the style-conscious, but fun, ease and affordability are prioritized over fashion.

 

 

Still, there’s no corner-cutting in terms of quality. While the final result is hardly traditional, the process is rooted in an artisanal attitude and practice, with made-to-order items always on the menu. New Kid shoes and garments are all produced in and around Santa Croce sull’Arno (Pisa), through 10 small, family-run factories. Rachel and Letizia are well-acquainted with all the workers, and even teamed up with a photographer friend to produce a handmade zine spotlighting them.

 

Since opening Shoes and More, the pair has seen a range of customers—neighborhood nonne, international creative types, students—people drawn to the quirk on an otherwise quiet street. (Designated “doggie-in-the-window” Reggie, Rachel’s Scottish terrier and unofficial store mascot, also helps).

 

Rachel appreciates the passion and pride she sees in her Italian producers, but takes issue with one cultural concept: the cambio di stagione, or dramatic wardrobe changeover with the turn of the seasons. “I wear the same things year-round!”, she exclaims, with Letizia nodding knowingly. The shop reflects its founder’s tendencies, stocking garments, accessories and shoes fit for long-term, year-round wear (with strategic layering, of course).

 

 

The duo stays busy: they run an active, international e-commerce, follow the production process, source fabrics and generally “run around trying to keep up with everything. The guys we work with definitely think we’re a couple of weirdos,” Rachel laughs, “but we’d all rather be where we are than slaving away at some big brand. There’s much more passion this way.”

 

Shoes & More. Via del Ghirlandaio 18, Florence

Related articles

THINGS TO DO

Easter in Florence 2024

More than the exploding cart...

THINGS TO DO

Anselm Kiefer’s Fallen Angels at Palazzo Strozzi

25 large-scale works engage with themes of memory, history and war.

LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE