Apprentice To Master: Alexis Isabel

Alexis Isabel’s guiding philosophy has always been to prioritize shoes as the centerpiece of any outfit.

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While pursuing a degree in history at Sarah Lawrence College, Alexis began to nurture her interest in fashion accessories. It was there that she decided to follow her burgeoning passion for shoe design. After completing her studies, creative stints at Schwartz & Benjamin and Sigerson Morrison soon followed. Wanting to hone her skills and the art of harmonizing form, function, and beauty, Alexis enrolled at Domus Academy in Milan. During her studies she had the chance to work on several special projects including a design challenge inspired by a visit to the archives of Gianfranco Ferré that won accolades from her instructors; as well as a mentorship project with the Italian footwear brand, Moreschi, which featured in Vogue Italia.

Isabel, accepting these early votes of confidence from the industry, formally launched her eponymous collection in 2015. Produced in Italy by master artisans, the Alexis Isabel brand embodies integrity and quality. The designer imbues each shoe with femininity and soul. Alexis divides her time between New York and Milan, where she develops each shoe with a special attention to detail. Both the mundane and the extraordinary serve as constant inspiration for her work. Alexis has been featured as one of Footwear News’ emerging designers to watch, and is currently a CFDA plus Elaine Gold Launch Pad participant. She shares her views with Dipika Chopra, S&A…

On to the design process, do you think that sketching on paper first is necessary, or do you just jump straight into Photoshop or Illustrator or practically crafting?