When I design the NEUAURA line of footwear each season, I consider myself as part of the consumer group that will wear them. I consciously choose silhouettes and colors that are contemporary, yet still contain an element of timelessness. In the market today, there is a general trend of buying quality over quantity, so I strive to create styles that have a balance between being classic and fashion forward, allowing them to be worn for seasons to come.
For NEUAURA, comfort is equally important, regardless of the heel height, so most of our shoes have padded mesh lining for breathability, padded insoles for heel and arch support, and wherever we can, we incorporate flexible rubber soles to the styles for additional comfort. In 2009, we decided to switch our production to an eco-friendly factory in Brazil, which was awarded the Green Seal due to their sustainable practices. Best yet, they are just simply amazing shoemakers. With this factory I am able to achieve what I want for the NEUAURA brand: quality vegan shoes.
Naming NEUAURA's Collections
Each season, we pick a theme for naming the shoes. For the Spring/Summer 2009 collection, we named the shoes after endangered species from around the world. The Autumn/Winter 2009 collection is named after rivers from around the world. Choosing a theme is important because it's a constant reminder of our passion for animals and nature and why we started this brand in the first place.
Autumn/Winter 2009
This season, we decided to add more boot styles with different shaft heights. For the past couple of Fall seasons, boots have been quite dominant in women’s wardrobes, so we really want to offer our consumers boots for different occasions. The Teslin and Thames are more in the dressy boot category, but can easily be worn with denim. The Narmada leans more towards casual, and the two-tone color combo makes the style more versatile.
I know first hand that it's difficult to find quality, affordable animal-free boots, so this is definitely a void that's been filled by NEUAURA.
For Fall/Winter seasons, I prefer to keep the colors dark and neutral, as these colors are popular during the season. What I do like to emphasize are unique designs, materials and color combinations, which can be seen throughout the line. For example, the Pelly ballet has a weave pattern, and the weave is made of two different materials. We added a gold heart charm to the lace ends. The Sabine style is a combo of ultrasuede with a metallic called Laminado. This metallic is perfect for winter because it has a wintery richness to it.
The Kettle style has a heart pattern embroidery on the upper, which adds an element of happiness to the style. Winter doesn’t really kick in until December or January, so a style like Arinos will do well, and it’s perfect for Fall.
For Autumn/Winter 2009, we will be offering exclusive styles that consumers can only find on our web site, and we will note this on our site.
Spring/Summer 2009
When putting this line together, I was inspired by neutral metallic colors with cork, hence Shiner and Puma. The Puma metallic material actually has a more of a fabric feel to it, so it really forms to the foot. The Shiner style is a classic cork high heel with a platform. The metallic/cork combo really allows you to dress the style up or wear it casually. I love the versatility of this combo.
I was also inspired by rich summer jewel tone which is incorporated in the Elimia in Deep Sea. Because of my Indian background, jewel tones are popular throughout the year, so I’m always inspired by these tones all year round!
The Marmoset style has sold so well for us that we will carry the style into next season. I have a wide foot with low arches, and this style is incredibly comfortable. The factory has such fantastic last makers that we were able to execute this style so that the foot rests properly from toe to heel, and the mesh lining adds durability and flexibility to the style. We will carry the same colors, black and wine, into Autumn/Winter 2009. This style and colors truly fall into the timeless yet contemporary category.
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| Arti Upadhyay, Founder |
Sincerely,
