London based designer Victoria Spruce recently graduated with an MA in Womenswear Footwear from Royal College of Art (2011), and has previously achieved a BA(Hons) in Footwear Design at Cordwainers, London College of Fashion (2008). Victoria has always been inspired by architecture, sculpture and structure, which is clearly visible throughout her footwear collections, emphasised by her use of hard materials and new technologies combined with traditional leathers and shoe making techniques.
The collection was originally inspired by organic, flowing sculptures, giving the idea that the object could consist of one flowing continuous line and material. Through using hard materials and new technologies combined with traditional shoemaking materials and techniques an element of contrast is highly visible yet working together as one.
Emphasised by the use of tonal matte leathers to line the plastic and traditional leather soles, the contrast between the modern plastic look and the traditional aspects becomes even further evident. The result is a combination of hard and soft, a contrast of matte vs. shine, and an unlikely pairing of modern technology and traditional techniques creating sculptural and fresh new footwear.
