It has been calculated that in a lifetime, on average, women spend more than £33,000 on footwear, with half of women admitting that they buy a least one new pair of shoes a month. (Daily Mail). With so much interest in the area of footwear, designers and online boutiques are trying to find more ways to captivate a high spending audience.

Kindred Sole – bringing together footwear designers

Kindred Sole was launched October 2009 by Lizze Leary and Beth Widdowson. Both graduates of Fashion Retail Buying at De Montfort University, Leicester. The friends began working on ideas for Kindred Sole in 2006, during their first year of university. They continued to adapt, improve and seek out new ideas during their course and after graduation, Kindred Sole was launched.

Kindred Sole brings together ladies shoes from up and coming footwear designers, with established brands from around the world. They create shoe collections from the “best of the best” shoe designers to bring their customers truly unique collections, with an emphasis on great design, quality materials and gorgeous detail.

“Shoes are not an accessory they are a necessity after all!  We felt that the majority of the stores all offered the same styles of shoes with small variations. We wanted access to exciting designs! We knew that there was lots of great styles and designs that were not making it to the consumer and this encouraged us to seek out alternative, unique designers.”

The Aim

Kindred Sole aims to bring a fresh approach to shoe shopping online for designer shoes with customer service being our top priority. Lizze and Beth actively seek customers feedback through their blog, product reviews or social media pages on Twitter and Facebook.

The team have searched high and low for the diamonds of the footwear world, to bring their customers shoes from the most fabulous high heels to the embellished leather gem sandals. The aim is to provide a unique shopping experience for customers so that they can add shoes to their wardrobe that are “on trend yet versatile so will take you from season to season as investment buys.”

“When you think about it, you can have a totally lack lustre outfit and you pair that with a pair of amazing shoes and they transform the whole look! Shoes make people smile, they express your personality and hidden quirks, shoes to us are windows to the soul.”

Kindred Sole has noticed that in its three years of customer research that demand has shifted from cheap, impulsive buys to customers demanding investment pieces, that reflect style and quality rather than a quick fashion fix. This is reflected in the styles and quality that Kindred Sole offers its customers in its collections.

Inspiration

The Kindred Sole team begin each new season reviewing the key catwalk looks and creating trend and mood boards,  complete with fabrics and colour palettes to encourage their inspiration. These boards provide the original ideas for what they feel will be the key looks of the season, such as Clogs for Summer 10 which they responded to with Bloom Clog.

Key Collections

SailorShore – The Riviera

Kindred Sole is now in its second season and this is their first Summer collection

Beth’s favourites – “It would depend on my mood and outfit! But at the moment for me it would be between Denim Cuff Sandal and Herald Brogue“.

Denim Cuff Sandal

Get in touch with this seasons Double Denim trend, with this slouchy Cuff Sandal – accessorise it up or wear is down. Comfortable, practical and on trend.

Herald Brogue

Designed by Bronx, vintage inspired classic flat brogues in neutral white, perfect to team with this seasons pastels.

Polite Eccentrics

The Polite Eccentrics collection has ideas taken from a strong mood board, this collection features the latest high fashion ladies designer shoes from flat ballet pumps to high heel courts. Brands featured include United Nude, Velvet Bee and Ugly Duckling as well as new shoe designers Laura J London and Miss L Fire.

Block Pump Hi, by Kindred Sole

Block Pump Hi

Hitting this seasons colour blocking trend. With a unique styled 4.5 inch heel.

Alexa Cut Out, by Kindred Sole

Alexa Cut Out

Handmade platform heels inspired but this Spring/Summer’s Sport Luxe trend. They are limited edition with only 360 pairs made.

Lizze’s favourites – “Cup Buckle Sandal Hi is my favourite shoe of the SailorShore The Riviera collection they look FAB with socks that reflects one of the seasons key trends and it also looks fierce in the Boardroom!”

“Kindred Sole is a lifestyle choice and our shoes reflect this ethos. Kindred Sole is a online boutique for women who are fashion aware but not led by on trend styles. We focus on traditional silhouettes with modern interpretations, Kindred Sole’s shoes are timeless pieces of art that will seamlessly and effortlessly take you from season to season.”

Successes and the Future

The Kindred Sole team were shortlisted at the WOW Awards (Women On their Way) in the “Start Up” Category and were finalists in the Shell liveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards. These nominations are a huge achievement for such a new business, both Lizze and Beth are delighted and have big plans for Kindred Sole in the near future. The team are currently working on moving forward the create an own brand label in collaboration with Graduate footwear designers.

“We are constantly increasing the styles available and will continue to do so! Our goals for 2010 are to continue to grow, expand and impress our customers with the fantastic shoes that are available at Kindred Sole!”

Kindred Sole ship across the UK and Internationally, all items are despatched gift wrapped as standard whether it is a present for a loved one or a treat for yourself.