Interview with Roy Luwolt of Malone Souliers Shoes

Nordstrom’s latest addition to their ever-growing designer shoe department is none other than Malone Souliers. Unique and oh-so-covetable designs make up the collection of pumps, mules, lace-ups and peep-toes – all done up in luxe fabrics and colors. Each style is not only aesthetically amazing, but designed with the comfort of the wearer in mind – a far cry from your typical designer shoe.

Upon learning about the brand and launch at Nordstrom, I was excited to meet the power-duo behind it in person at the Nordstrom Designer Preview event that took place on July 23rd at Pier 91 in Seattle. Mary Alice Malone is the Founder/designer and Creative Director and Roy Luwolt is the Co-Founder and Managing Director. Both uber-fabulous and approachable. Below, Roy shares a few insights on the collection via a short interview.

 

SKP: What was the inspiration behind the brand?

RL: Malone Souliers foundation comes from the corset era of the 1950s. A touch of fetishism combined with an intense appreciation of luxury and artisanal techniques.

SKP: How has your background and experience shaped your approach to design?

RL: My understanding of the luxury market really helps in refining a marketable product, and in collaboration with my Co-Founder, Mary Alice Malone we are able to create a product that is not only wearable, but covetable.

SKP: How would you describe Malone Souliers to someone you met for the first time?

RL: Artisanal, architectural and unapologetic

SKP: Who is the Malone Souliers woman?

RL: She’s strong by day, no less so after hours: bold yet demure.

SKP: Tell me about the shoes – they have some unique elements that are both practical and fashionable, like the Spring-o-Lator. How big of a part does function play in the design of your shoes?  

RL: Shoes have a duality to them, in that they need to make the wearer feel just as amazing aesthetically as they are really. However, most importantly, they must support you physically; ergo, the Spring-o-Lator contraption unique to Malone Souliers. At the end of the day (metaphorically and literally), your shoes must keep up with you.

SKP: What is the key silhouette for the season? (I love how the collection encompasses lace-ups and mules)

RL: We have our signature styles, from the Montana and the Veronica, to the Maureen and the Savannah, and more. The underlying corset style very much encapsulates the inspiration behind the brand, but the mules are such a strong and easy style to incorporate into a woman’s quotidian life.

SKP: What shoe from the collection are you loving right now?

RL: The Maye is a bespoke couture shoe we only produced two pairs of, but are looking to reproduce on scale due to demand. They are very much a work of reductive art.

Nordstrom offers a selection of Malone Souliers styles online and in stores. You can also browse more styles and learn more about the brand at MaloneSouliers.com. (Tip: grab a glass of vino and check out their video section – lots to learn about this fab brand).

Photos courtesy of Malone Souliers.