Interview With Footwear Design Alumna Stephanie Sanchez

Name: Stephanie Renee Sanchez

Grad Year: Spring 2008

Major: Fashion Design/Footwear Design

Campus: Los Angeles

 

Job: Footwear Designer, Jimlar

 

Tell us a little about yourself. I am a native Texan who is a total music and design junkie.

 

Describe what you do at Jimlar. I am a Footwear Designer. My job involves everything from creating inspiration boards and sketching to writing specs and correcting shoes. I also travel to China about every 2-3 months to work with our sample room and factories.

 

Briefly describe the design process. The design process begins with our team researching and shopping for trends and inspiration for the appropriate season. We shop everything from vintage to high-end and everywhere from in Manhattan to Japan. Right now, we have members of the design team in Europe. Afterwards, we meet with the client—in this case Macy's—to reveal and discuss our findings (all of which must be brand appropriate). After our meeting, we begin sketching. This is then followed by a series of sketch reviews with the client.

 

How many sketches are created before a final design is approved? Oh wow, it's hard to say, but by the time we've reached the point of showing Macy's actual photos, we've literally sketched into hundreds of ideas.

 

Which brands do you design for? Macy's private labels: Alfani and Style & Co.

 

Tell me about the Brown Shoe Contest you won in 2008: Every year, the FIDM Footwear Students participate in the Brown Shoe Design Contest. It's actually a project in the Footwear Illustration class. I can't be certain how many entries there were in 2008, but the contest was open to students nationwide. The Grand Prize was a check for $2,000 and a trip to New York City to tour the Brown Shoe office and showroom. It definitely helped me in my career. It was during the trip that I met Sam Edelman in his New York City showroom. He offered me an internship, which eventually led to a full-time design position. Although I have since moved on from Sam Edelman Shoes, it proved to be a valuable experience.

This shoe design was Stephanie's final submission which led her to win the national Brown Shoe Design Contest in 2008.

   

And this is the prototype.

What inspires you in your designs? Music and art. I absolutely love music from all over the world. But I suppose the majority of the time I am listening to the indie variety. As far as art, my favorite medium is photography.

 

What are the hottest trends for spring and summer this year? In regards to shoes, definitely go get yourself a pair of clogs! Other key styles are anything lace-up or embellished with jewels or studs.

 

Who's your favorite designer? My favorite designer label is Chloe. I absolutely love their shoes and handbags. And it definitely fits my aesthetic and personal style. I would describe Chloe's look as chic and above all, easy, which is not always common in luxury goods. Right now Chloe has some great canvas/leather ankle wrap sandals—very artisan looking.

 

Describe your personal style: I am not a big denim person—I literally own one pair of jeans. My personal style is very minimal with pops of organic shaped jewelry and amazing shoes <wink>.

 

What's your favorite fashion websites or blogs? luisaviaroma.com, Miss Shoewawa, and Obsessed With Shoes

How did you find out about FIDM? Through online research.

How did you know FIDM was the right college for you? I knew that FIDM was the fashion school for me because of their excellent footwear program.

How did you decide on your major? I have had a passion for footwear for a long time now, so it was a decision that came naturally.

What was your favorite class at FIDM? It's a tie between Fashion Illustration—with the wonderful Nancy Riegelman—and Marketing.

What did you love about your Fashion Illustration class? First of all, Nancy Riegelman is amazingly talented and an excellent instructor. I also simply love the calm of rendering/sketching.

What did you love about your Marketing class? The class was great because it was here that we learned about the business side of the shoe industry. I can't stress enough how important it is to know your customer and what he/she is buying. At the end of the day, this is a business.

How do you feel FIDM prepared you for what you're doing now? FIDM definitely prepared me for many of the technical aspects of my job. It was also beneficial to travel abroad and take on several internships while at FIDM.

What did you learn while traveling abroad while at FIDM? While in Italy, we were able to tour tanneries, last factories, heel factories, etc.—and observe how all of these crucial parts of the shoe are made. It was absolutely fascinating! We also met with a master technician and shoe designer, Armando Pollini. Each, at separate times, critiqued some of the class' footwear designs.

What were the internship you had while at FIDM? I was an intern for both Cynthia Vincent and BC Footwear/Seychelles. It was an excellent introduction into the hard work and long hours that go into this job. In addition, I also learned that I needed to increase the speed of my sketching—I was a really slow sketcher at that time.

What is your biggest lesson you've learned since you graduated? I've learned that you must be quick in this industry. Consumers are continuously looking for newness, so we must move fast and continue to offer fresh ideas.

What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about going to a fashion institute? He or she should go in knowing that, contrary to popular belief, fashion is hard work and not all glamour.

What are your future goals? I hope to gain several more years of experience in the shoe industry. Eventually I would love to start my own design firm—not exclusive to shoes.

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