Aksha: If the shoe fits…

We all have our fetishes, be they handbags, lingerie, jewellery or shoes.  If your fixation is upon shoes then perhaps you visualise yourself as Cinderella, and believe that ONE pair of shoes can transform you into a princess.

One woman behind creating such a fantasy is Aksha Fernandez. Aksha is of Indian descent and likes to bring an international, free-spirited and playful element to her designs.

Having originally studied and worked as an architect in India, Aksha began to feel somewhat restricted and ventured to Milan to continue on her creative journey. While doing an MA in accessory design, Aksha fell in love with the Italian craft of shoemaking and the rest, as they say, is history. Aksha’s designs speak for themselves and she’s got the talent, passion and drive to conquer the world with her shoes.

Aksha’s inspiration for her Autumn/Winter collection was the sombre British weather, the crackling of the leaves beneath her feet along with the gloomy skies. As Aksha herself describes it: “The dry, crunchy sound in the air has this decadent atmosphere but still evokes an indulgence of bliss and romance.” Sounds like the perfect fairytale.

Her shoes shown above have the intricate detail of a leaf in a filigree-inspired style. They may have a classic appearance, but they sure are unique. Or if you want a “cooler” look, check out her “Fallen Leaf” suede shoes.

Aksha’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection takes a different approach and her muse is a butterfly – as you can see, the colours she uses are vibrant and fresh. In this collection the shoes have fine, detailed painting on them, meaning that everyone will be admiring your footwear rather than your ensemble.

This young, beautiful and gifted designer has the fashion world at her feet (no pun intended).  Her collections are supported by Young British Designers and are available to be purchased online here.

Pooja Sahny