Sole Perspective™ is America’s first reality television competition to take on the world of shoe design.
Producer and President of Bernardo Footwear, L.L.C., Trae Smith and Writer/Producer/Director J. Ryan Johnson created a reality-based format for aspiring footwear designers to compete in a series of weekly design-related projects. These challenges require designing, detailing, and assisting in the production of footwear creations.
Judges include:
Jeanne Markel–Senior Buyer, Zappos.com
Carlos Falchi, Fashion Designer (he’s amazing!)
Joely Price, Senior Fashion Director, Harpers Bazaar
Contestants include:
Bryan
Stan
Rania
Tiffany
Cristina
The premiere episode of Sole Perspective features a challenge to research Bernard Rudofsky (Austrian-American, 1905-1988), the world renowned architect who founded the footwear company, Bernardo in 1947. Rudofsky was a complex and Renaissance man and he really went into many different directions including writing many books.
After research is completed, the designers are to use the information, influence and inspiration gained from this research project to design a collection of three sandals using the same sandal construction that Rudofsky originally created back in the 1940’s. This three sandal collection are to be designed and detailed in such a way that they can be merchandised and sold together.
The winning designer of this Sole Perspective challenge will receive a $10,000 scholarship, and their designs will be included in the Bernardo “Spring 2009” line.
Besides the reality show/contest, the show is going to go behind the scenes of some of hte most popular footwear brands from the past and currently and talk to the designers and show off the influence of those brands on footwear design and fashion. Going beyond the aesthetic and inspirational contributions, the technological advancements made in the footwear industry, many of which are taken for granted today– will be discussed since many of these tech advances are now considered to be the norm and part of the entire shoe package without acknowledging the effort and work behind the development. More than just technology, this show will depict the complexities of this industry that really is about FIT as well as design and the comfort of the item is essential since shoes go nowhere if they aren’t comfortable.
Want to learn more about the show, the contest and the different designers including the featured contestants and also the brands that are featured too? Check out the Soleperspective.com/Blog
