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"fASHION IS A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN... LET'S TALK" EURASIAN VOGUE


THE NEW COLLECTION BY ZVELLE- AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER #ZVELLEXEARHART

10/31/2015

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Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it.
– Amelia Earhart. Aviation pioneer, author, trailblazer. 

​I loved Zvelle shoes from the moment I set my eyes on their first collection and having interviewed the gorgeously smart and talented founder and creative director Elle AyoubZadeh, I was hooked.  Well good news for fellow Zvelle fans, their new collection is available to pre-order, and let me tell you, with this new collection, they have outdone themselves! 

As AyoubZadeh explained to EV during our interview, the first collection was inspired by AyoubZadeh's love of architecture. The inspiration behind this new collection? One incredible women, Aviation Pioneer, Amelia Earhart, and Zvelle couldn't have picked a better muse, the collection is stunning.

All portions from the new collection will go to the 'Fly With Amelia Foundation'. Run by Amelia Rose Earhart, who was named in honor of the 1930’s icon, the foundation is a non profit organization that offers flight-training scholarships to young women.

AyoubZadeh explains on Zvelle.com, “I’ve always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart. For a woman to become a pilot and fly around the world in her day was incredible. She just went for it.” It was this spirit that shaped the #ZvellexEarhart collection, AyoubZadeh continues “I started thinking, if I was creating shoes for Amelia, what would they look like?” The outcome; the most glorious, classic collection of six styles for modern day pioneers.
 
The previous collection was made up of beautiful flats and kitten heels, but this collection sees the addition of a higher heel, AyoubZadeh explains, “We started with a higher heel because we hadn’t done that before." However staying true to their company mission of creating luxurious yet comfortable and wearable shoes, AyoubZadeh shows that despite the addition of a high heel, elegant comfort was still at the forefront of her mind when designing the collection, adding something very different to the usual high heel, a memory foam inside. Music to every women's ears!!



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Inspired by aviation, each pair has a unique wing detailing and a pointed toe, the result? A beautiful and unique shoe like the Amelia.

​Still keeping a hold of the initial collections inspiration of architecture, AyoubZadeh says, “I like clean architectural lines but the curves in this shoe give it a softer look." but warns.." Plan on getting noticed when you wear them!” 

Also keeping to Zvelle's mission set out from their first collection of the #9to9, (shoes that can take you from the office to a glamorous cocktail evening), Zvelle have once again achieved a collection that will see you through from day to night.

Another addition to this collection is the Zvelle bootie just in time for fall! With the Electra being named after Ms. Earhart’s 'beloved' airplane. “If you look at a plane, there are so many different parts and angles,” explains AyoubZadeh. “These booties really encompass all these details”.

The Electra is one of my favorite additions to the new collection, allowing you to wear a bootie with a skirt without cutting off the leg and still showcasing women's foot in the most flattering of lights. With the cut out detailing on the side not only revealing the most delicate parts of a woman’s foot, the anklebone, it also helps to elongate the leg. “I like these with cropped pants but they’d also look great with a dress and patterned stockings.” says AyoubZadeh

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The Electra

​With glamorous comfort still being an important consideration when designing every pair of Zvelle shoes, AyoubZadeh says their now trademark kitten heels still had to be part of the collection. “I make shoes that women can walk in. Kittens are one of our signatures so I always knew this would be part of the collection." Also good news for Zvelle fans, all the shoes have their unique heel detailing, with the side of the heel looking like a stiletto, from the back, a block heel. 

The collection also sees the inclusion of the traditional pump but with a whole lot of 'sass' with Zvelle adding their own unique detailing as seen on the Rendezvous, with it's high collar above the heel which draws the eye up the leg.


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The Rendevous

What I loved when I interviewed AyoubZadeh was her passion to inspire women to follow their dreams, something that is clearly at the heart and soul of Zvelle's mission and the #ZvellexEarhart collection puts that ethos into practice, with Zvelle's partnership with the Fly With Amelia Foundation. 
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With AyoubZadeh's determination to give back she say's, " I’d been looking for charities to partner with and hadn’t found the right one, then I met Amelia Rose” continuing “Our shared vision is that we both want to use our life to make an impact. She also happens to be gorgeous!”


‘Adventure is worthwhile in itself’.

The two women instantly connected and went on to name the collection together. A percentage of sales from the #ZvellexEarhart collection will go towards helping women fly,' literally and figuratively'. “There’s a quote by Amelia Earhart that I love,” concludes AyoubZadeh. ‘Adventure is worthwhile in itself’. I think that really represents what we’re doing at Zvelle. And we’re just getting started.” 
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​-I couldn't agree more. 

To pre-order the ZVELLEXEARHART collection visit Zvelle.com

Scroll to see the full collection below.

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The Lady Lindy,  (Ms. Earhart’s nickname) features a classic T-strap with nappa leather and suede. 


​#ZVELLEXEARHART COLLECTION 

For full list of prices and to pre-order the collection visit Zvelle.com

Click here for the full interview with Zvelle's creative director, Elle AyoubZadeh 

All photo credits : Zvelle.com
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THE DRAMA CONTINUES IN THE LANVIN HOUSE

10/30/2015

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It's been a dramatic week in the Lanvin house and things don't look like they will be settling down anytime soon. 

It seems that the 330 employees of Elbaz's team are demanding an explanation for the forced exit of Elbaz. They are said to be demanding majority share owner, (and the one responsible for forcing Elbaz out) Taiwan publishing mogul Shaw- Lan Wang, come back from Taiwan and return to Paris to discuss their concerns, with the ultimate aim of bringing Elbaz back to the fashion house. 

They are also said to potentially seeking help from the Paris commercial court to help mediate the situation and help make a decision on the course of action to take. 

On French radio station RTL at midday on Thursday Paris time, the representatives that work for the council let it's audience know that Lanvin's employees were truly upset at the firing of Elbaz.  Council representative Charles- Henry Paris was present for the broadcast as well as an anonymous employee who joined the conversation to give the inside information on the reaction of Elbaz's former team. 

Elbaz had been with Lanvin for 14 years, but sources close to the company say there were huge disagreements between Wang and CEO Michèle Huiban on how to take the brand forward. 

No mention from either party has been made as to who will take over the Lanvin reigns, or where Elbaz will move on to next. 


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SELENA GOMEZ- NEW NETFLIX SHOW ANNOUNCED. 

10/29/2015

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Good news for Selena Gomez, (and her fans..!) Gomez is getting her own straight to series-order Netflix show. Set to star in as well as executive produce a 13 episode mini-series that will be based on the New York bestselling novel YA books,13 Reasons Why written by Jay Asher.

The book revolves around high school student Hanna Baker who commits suicide. Some cassette tapes explaining her reasons why are given to a boy named Clay. 

No release date has been set, but the pilot has been written by Pulitzer Prize winner (for his musical, Next to Normal) playwright Brian Yorkey. 

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ALBER ELBAZ FORCED TO LEAVE LANVIN

10/28/2015

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​​Alber Elbaz, the designer, who revived Lanvin when he took the helm in 2001, has been forced to leave the brand after an incredible 14 years with the fashion house according to WWD.

Speaking of the departure in a statement, Elbaz didn't name the person responsible for the decision but made it quite clear when he stated the decision was made by the 'company's majority shareholder.' 

The person Elbaz was referring to was Shaw-Lan Wang, a Taiwanese publishing mogul who brought Elbaz into the Lanvin fold. In a statement issued by Lanvin, they said : (We)

“Would like to thank him for the chapter he has written in the House’s over 125 year history. The House of LANVIN confirms the implementation of its corporate strategic plan to continue making the oldest of the Parisian fashion houses, the Ambassador of French luxury’s excellence, in the independent spirit of its founder Jeanne Lanvin."

According to close sources, the departure has come after conflicts with Elbaz and Wang and CEO Michèle Huiban. His exit has come as a shock to Elbaz's design team who weren't given special notification of his departure but instead told during a general meeting and were told they had to finish the pre-fall collection without Elbaz. Many of the team were said to be in shock and said to have been in tears at the news, demanding an explanation and information on how the fashion house would be moving forward. 

The news broke last Wednesday, and Elbaz was out of his office on the previous Tuesday night. In his statement following the news, Elbaz said: 

"At this time of my departure from Lanvin on the decision of the company's majority shareholder, I wish to express my gratitude and warm thoughts to all those who have worked with me passionately on the revival of Lanvin over the last 14 years; express my affection to all my wonderful colleagues in the Lanvin ateliers who accompanies me, and who enriched and supported my work. Together we have met the creative challenge presented by Lanvin and have restored its radiance and have returned it to its rightful position among France's absolute luxury fashion houses.
"I also wish to express my profound and deepest gratitude to all of the clients and friends, to the French and international press and to all those business partners who collaborated with Lanvin, providing us with support since 2001."

"I wish the house of Lanvin the future it deserves among the best French luxury brands, and hope that it finds the business vision it needs to engage in the right way forward."

Although never directly acknowledging the friction between the company heads and Elbaz, by stating  "hope(s) that it finds the business vision it needs to engage in the right way forward." indicates some serious conflict in their creative vision. 

Although when Elbaz first joined the company profits went up, sales have been dwindling, with the company even expecting to post a loss for the first time in nearly 10 years. 

Lanvin have yet to comment on who will take over from Elbaz. However everyone is already speculating what Elba's next move will be, with rumors already rife that he will move on to Dior to replace Raf Simons who exited Dior last week. Watch this space! 

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RAF SIMONS LEAVES DIOR

10/28/2015

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It was a sad day for the Dior family and indeed Dior fans last week as Raf Simons declared that his spring summer 2016 collection was to be his last with Dior as he made the decision to leave the design house after a three and a half years with the brand.

Making the announcement at the end of trading on the Paris Bourse. Speaking of his decision, Simons stated that it was for 'personal reasons' 

The designer set to take over the brand has yet to be named, however with the exit of Alber Elbaz with Lanvin, rumors are going into overdrive that he may well be the one taking over. Relationships between Simons and Dior were left in good tact though as the split was said to be without conflict on either side, after Simons and the company failed to come to an agreement when negotiating the renewal of his contract. 

The announcement came as a shock to those in the industry and those within the Dior family, Not to mention the domino effect such a shake up can have on other fashion houses as it often creates a shuffle of many of the designers working in other houses.  

In a statement, Simmons said:

“It is after careful and long consideration that I have decided to leave my position as creative director of Christian Dior's women’s collection,”

​“It is a decision based entirely and equally on my desire to focus on other interests in my life, including my own brand, and the passions that drive me outside my work. Christian Dior is an extraordinary company, and it has been an immense privilege to write a few pages of this magnificent book. I want to thank Mr. Bernard Arnault for the trust he has put in me, giving me the incredible opportunity to work at this beautiful house surrounded by the most amazing team one could ever dream of. I have also had the chance over the last few years to benefit from the leadership of Sidney Toledano. His thoughtful, heartfelt and inspired management will also remain as one of the most important experiences of my professional career.”

This has't been the first shocking departure for Dior. In 2011 John Galliano was forced to leave Dior as a result of his anti-semitic abusive comments at a Parisian cafe. The incident resulted in a conviction of public insult for Galliano as well as a backlash from fans of the brand as well as Natalie Portman, (the face of Dior perfume) declaring she would no longer work with the brand if he stayed. Dior themselves didn't feel the strain of the incident however and went on to prove good sales figures, with the second in command Bill Gaytten taking the lead and creating their trademark 50s inspired, feminine pieces. 

It could be that Simons is leaving to focus more on his own line, in which he specializes in menswear, and is said to be showing his collection in Paris, however Simons has no shortage of offers from other design houses with many fans in the industry including Calvin Klein. 

No decisions have been made as to who will take over from Simons, but rumor has it Riccardo Tisci, who has been Givenchy’s couturier since 2004, is likely to lead the list of potential candidates. Adding weight to this rumor, in 1996 Dior recruited Galliano from Givenchy. 

My money is on Alber Elbaz. Dior were in talks with him as Galliano was forced to leave the brand, and now that he Elbaz has departed from Lanvin, he seems like the obvious choice, and timing could not be more perfect. 

Other designers Dior were said to admire and were looking to after Galliano left were New York design duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez (Provenza Schouler). Also on the list was Valentino’s design partners, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli but I'm hedging my bets on Elbaz! 






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BALMAIN  X H&M DEBUTES IN NEW YORK

10/27/2015

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Photo credit: H&M

​H&M have long been known for their exciting exciting collaborations. Beginning in 2004, when H&M partnered up with their first guest designer, Karl Lagerfeld, offering a few select stores the exclusive collection.  This was set to be the first of many after its success which saw the collection being sold out within the hour. 

Fast forward 11 years and we have seen H&M partner up with a string of other designers including Stella McCartney, Versace, Lavin, Isabel Marant and the last collaboration, Alexander Wang. 

The latest collaboration is with Balmain x H&M. The collaboration was announced in glorious style by Olivier Rousteing and his friend Kendall Jenner and Jourdan Dunn whilst wearing the collection on the red carpet at the Billboard Music Awards back in May. They had, "kept it a secret for so long, no one could believe we were wearing pieces from the collection" Rousteing told Marie Claire. 

Speaking about the collaboration, Rousteing has said he immediately knew he wanted to do the collaboration, wanting to give pieces of Balmain to the whole world. Telling Marie Claire, "My Instagram followers are always telling me exactly what they like from my shows, and what they dream of wearing, so I wanted to give them that collection."

The exciting debut of the collection hit the runway in New York last Tuesday. The venue, 23 Wall Street. An unexpected performance was put on show as The Backstreet Boys performed, as requested by the designer himself, who is apparently a big fan. 

As expected the show went off with a bang, with front row current 'it' girl favorites including, Kylie Jenner, Jessica Hart, Martha Hunt and Diane Kruger sitting centre stage. 

As Kendall Jenner led the runway in a gorgeous embellished dress, other models followed in a flow of gorgeous pieces, with social media going in to over drive with the Balmain hashtag #HMBalmination. 

As for the collection itself? It was almost exact replicas of the designs that walked the Balmain runway, but this time as expected, in more economically priced fabrics enabling a much lower price point. 

I personally love the collection, aside from it being a near 'copy' of the original Balmain runway collection the colors, embellishments and belted pieces are just stunning. With beautiful luxe colors and fabrics, gorgeous structured jackets, down to the unique cut of the trousers. Some of my favorites pieces included a gorgeous yellow blouse, paired with lose fitting embroidered trousers, and look 14, the rope designed sleeveless top (available in yellow and black) and the stunning tuxedo style jumpsuit. But honestly, I adore it all, and I wasn't alone. After the debut show, the after-show shopping began, as fans began fighting to get their hands on the collection.

Speaking to WWD after the show, the designer seemed very pleased with the show and the reaction to the collection, “I’m so happy. I’m so proud. It’s like a big achievement as a designer and as a person,”
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One of Rousteing's favorite pieces from the collection, this embellished velvet blazer worn by Kendall Jenner that can be worn as a blazer or a dress. 

As Eurasian Vogue has reported in the past, the H&M site tends to go into overdrive and shut down as shoppers try and purchase items at the strike of midnight as the collection goes on sale, and I wonder if this year will be any different. With such close replicas of the original Balmain collection, I'm sure this one will, if anything surpass the popularity of previous collaborations. We shall see on November 5th when the collection goes on sale! Click the below gallery to see the entire collection and begin picking out your must have items! 


SEE THE FULL BALMAIN X H&M 

All photo credits George Chinsee. 
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THE INTERVIEW:  WITH ELLE AYOUBZADEH  - ZVELLE #9TO9

10/1/2015

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Founder and creative director of Zvelle, Elle AyoubZadeh

The words functional and practical are not two words that I would generally use to describe chic, gorgeous shoes. However that changed a few weeks ago when I discovered new shoe collection, Zvelle ​a Canadian based shoe company founded by Elle AyoubZadeh.

When I came across their Instagram, website, and eventually when I got my hands on two pairs of the stunningly elegant and well made shoes, I was more than a little excited and had to reassess my idea of functional footwear.

The shoes are so beautifully crafted; comfortable yet have such a unique aesthetic. The first pair I tried on was the Rayna Slingback Kittens in blithe blue. From the back, the heel looks like a block heel, from the side an elegant stiletto. Perfection. 
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Sitting happy with my Rayna Slingback Kittens in blithe blue

​Then I slipped on the second pair of shoes, the Nelson Arrow Flats, I felt like I was walking on cushions. I kid you not. I also should have prefaced this by saying I rarely wear flats, especially in a business setting and certainly not at cocktail hour. However this pair with their gold shimmer and strong arrow placed in the center, are certainly a pair that could take me from day to night. Particularly with the tiniest of raised heels that gives that satisfactory elegant clicking sound as you walk. With the collection being named #9to9 (shoes to take you from morning to night, as let's be honest, whose day ends at 5pm anymore..) I do believe the company has accomplished its mission. 
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Flats that can finally see me through until cocktail hour- Nelson Arrow Flats in gold. 

​It’s rare to be so blown away by both a collection and the creative director and founder herself. The ethos behind the company is empowering women. Few companies can state they have a beautiful collection for customers to purchase on one section, as well as an interview with Minister Kellie Leitch in another.

However this is exactly what the company stands for. The shoes are created for inspired and inspiring women. The working mum, the boss lady, the lady that lunches, takes business meetings and finishes the day off at an evening event, before going home and putting her kids to bed and her beautiful shoes carry her through each step of her day.
 
It’s not so surprising when you begin to understand founder and creative director, Elle AyoubZadeh’s background. A citizen of the world, Elle was born in Iran, and has lived in Dubai, New Zealand and Australia before settling in Canada in 2007. Elle’s career has also allowed her to experience different areas of business, having worked in international finance, as well as co-founding a luxury retail company before launching Zvelle.
 
Elle first had the idea to start Zvelle in June 2014 and took just one year to see her idea turn into reality in June 2015. The name for the company was born out of a moment of inspiration for Elle. With Zvelle being a derivative of the last part of Elle’s name (Zadeh), and first name  (Elle) with a V separating them. Genius!
 
Having become a fan of the shoes at first sight, Eurasian Vogue was fortunate enough to speak to the women herself as Elle kindly took some time out of her busy day to answer some questions about the company, her inspiration behind the collection, future plans and what it means to be a Zvelle women. 

​EV: Elle, Thank you so much for taking the time to chat to Eurasian Vogue about your new company. Can you tell us more about your background and when your interest in fashion began?
 
EAZ: Thank you Stacy for the opportunity. I have an international background like you. I’ve lived in a number of different countries and previously worked in international finance and luxury retail.  I have always been interested in fashion though it didn’t become a clear career path for me until a few years ago. I come from a very stylish family. My grandmother took me shoe shopping when she looked after me and she was always dressed like she was going somewhere. My mother is the most elegant woman I know and I used to steal her clothes and walk in her shoes when I was younger. The women in my family love fashion and have always dressed for themselves, which has been a huge influence for me.
 
EV: Do you remember the moment you decided to begin your own company?
 
EAZ: Yes, there wasn’t an exact moment but an exact phase where I decided I was going to start Zvelle. I previously co-founded a luxury concept store where we featured coveted emerging designers from around the world. The next stage for us was to develop our own products. I decided that I wanted to put my entire focus on building our own brand instead of doing both, which can be time consuming.
 
EV: Your customer will certainly see the beauty in the shoes when they purchase a piece of the collection, but I’m sure won’t all know the efforts behind finding just the right manufacturer, which I’m sure was one of the biggest challenges when starting up the company. You travelled all the way to south Brazil to eventually find the right one. Can you tell us what that process was like and how long it took?
 
EAZ: Yes you are right. The biggest challenge and opportunity is finding the right manufacturing partner.  I wanted to work with the best people and find the right partner who was as passionate and details oriented as I am. I travelled to Spain and Brazil and met with factory owners directly. I spoke to factory owners in Italy. It took a few months and it was worth it because I found the right partner in a family owned factory in the south of Brazil.  I didn’t let the language barrier stop me and as result I met with a lot of talented people many of whom I continue to maintain a relationship with.
 
It was also important for me that the factory treated its artisans well. I love working with the artisans in the factory. We are proud to have a relationship with every supplier. 
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After a long search, AyoubZadeh finally found the right manufacturer to make the collections. A small family-run business in southern Brazil.

​EV: Being such a new company, the process of launching is still so fresh! What has been the biggest hurdle you have faced so far?


EAZ: Yes, we launched in June of this year! We are a young company and we learn things everyday! The biggest hurdle is to get the word out about your company and product. It’s a challenge most young businesses face and we are not unique in that sense. When you have built it you want to show as many people as possible. This is another reason I am thrilled to be talking with you! The other big hurdles are managing cash flow and prioritizing everything you want to do.

EV: I am thrilled to be talking with you! Especially as I can very much relate to your international background and having called different countries ‘home’. How has your cultural mix and work experience in different countries affected your aesthetic and vision as a designer?

EAZ: The best thing it’s done for me is that it’s broadened my mindset. I don’t have a one-dimensional view of the world.  Because of my diverse cultural upbringing I can relate to anyone in the world. In terms of aesthetic I think similarly it has made me diverse in the sense that I am not just leaning one way or the other. I’m aware that there are many different parts of the world and the women who live in those parts have different realities and needs. So when I approach the aesthetic or design of a collection I always have that in the back of my mind. I want to design and produce shoes that a woman can wear in a boardroom meeting in Toronto and later to dinner in Hong Kong. It has to be stylish yet practical. 

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EV: Having had different experiences within the industry, what was it that made you want to focus on shoes particularly, and do you plan on expanding your collection to accessories or a clothing line later on?
 
EAZ: I have had a long love affair with shoes. It’s the first thing I think of when I dress. Even as a university student I saved up so I can wear great quality shoes. Shoes do something chemically and emotionally that other accessories or clothes don’t. They instantly give you a lift literally! Your face and posture changes. I wanted to create beautiful designer shoes for the independent, professional and multi-faceted woman at an accessible price point.  I decided that I wanted to fill the void in the market. The Zvelle woman is confident and she has a strong personal vision. She dresses for herself.
 
We’d love to expand in to other product categories in the future and it’s definitely a possibility. For now, our focus is to design shoes for every occasion in a woman’s life and we have a little ways to go.
 
 “Shoes do something chemically and emotionally that other accessories or clothes don’t. They instantly give you a lift literally!” - Elle AyoubZadeh
EV : You’ve lived in some amazing places, with beautiful skyscrapers and stunning skylines. I read, (and loved) that your inspiration for the collection was architecture. I think you can really see that in the interesting and strong lines of the shoes, and especially the unique heel, which I adore! Have you always had an interest in architecture or was it just something that inspired you when you began designing this particular collection?
 
EAZ : Thank you. I’m thrilled you like it and that it’s resonating with the kind of women we want to reach. I’ve always had an interest in architecture and design. My business partner and I did the interior design of our concept store. I tend to like strong and unique shapes. I want you to notice it whether you like it or not. I was also inspired by strong women architects such as Farshid Moussavi and Zaha Hadid.
 
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EV: What else inspires you as a designer?
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EAZ: I am a very curious person so many things inspire me. I’m interested in people and have the good fortune of meeting very interesting people who inspire me in different ways. Culture inspires me. In terms of what inspires me for designing a shoe or collection it could be anything. Sometimes it can be a feeling I want to give birth to.

EV: This collection has kitten heels and flats. Do you think you might incorporate a higher heel in other collections or is the kitten heel going to be a Zvelle trademark?
 
EAZ: Yes, we have a higher version of the heel in the next collection. We are planning to introduce new heel shapes and heights. Every woman needs a few good pairs of kitten heels in her closet. It offers height yet is very practical. We will continue to make more kitten heels and I’d also like to expand our flat styles. If that becomes our trademark I would be happy.



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EV: As I may have mentioned once or twice, I genuinely love the collection; it’s classic, functional but stands out at the same time, a very unique combination! When you were designing the collection were you designing a shoe that you had always wanted to own, but had never been able to find?
 
EAZ: Thank you for your kind compliment. When I was designing the shoes I wanted to offer the Zvelle woman something she can wear 9 to 9.  Like the Zvelle woman I am also always going places so I wanted something that will take me to where I wanted to go in style and comfort. The Zvelle woman is a global citizen and I wanted the shoes to have a global appeal. 
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EV: On your website you have a fantastic section called #High Profile which will be a series of interviews featuring dynamic women who can inspire others. The first interview on your series is with Minister Kellie Leitch. How did this interview come about and how did you come up with the idea for the #High Profile section?
 
EAZ: I wanted to have a forum where we could have conversations with the Zvelle woman and share her stories. The Zvelle woman is inspiring and she is a force to be reckoned with. I had the pleasure of meeting Minister Leitch through a phenomenal woman Colleen Moorehead who I also interviewed. I had never paid much attention to politics until I met the Minister. She is so dynamic and focused and she is passionate about her role in office and her role as a Pediatric surgeon. After interviewing her I visited her on the campaign trail. She taught me that you are never too senior or important to do what is necessary to get the job done. 
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EV: If you could interview any women (and dress them in your shoes!) who would it be and why?
 
EAZ: I would love to interview many women. Few of those incredible women are Zhang Xin, CEO of Soho China, Shirin Ebadi, first female judge in Iran and the first woman to win the Noble Peace Prize, Angela Ahrendts, Senior Vice President , Apple Retail and of course the best interviewer of all time Oprah Winfrey.
 
EV: Your collection is currently only available on Zvelle.com, do you ever see yourself opening a store in store or have your own storefront? If so where would your ideal location be?
 
EAZ: Yes we would love to expand our footprint and that would be one way to do it.  The ideal location is to be anywhere the Zvelle woman is which means I’d love for us to be everywhere ;)
 
EV: Are there any designers that you look up to?
 
EAZ: I love what Donna Karan did for the professional woman’s wardrobe with her seven easy pieces and just the strong force that she is. I am inspired by Tory Burch and by what she has done through her company for women. Both Donna Karan and Tory Burch are their own people and I always like people like that.
 
 EV: would you describe your own personal style and what’s your favorite item of clothing in your wardrobe?
 
EAZ: I would describe my personal style as classic with an element of surprise. My favorite item of clothing in my wardrobe right now is any of my knitwear. I love a luxurious knit top that you can throw on quickly whether it is with a jeans, skirt or dress pants.
 
EV: How has your personal style changed since moving to Canada? (The colder weather must have changed your style since your days of living in very hot Dubai?!)
 
EAZ: I certainly dress for colder weather now though there haven’t been any significant changes in my style. My style has probably become a little more relaxed and functional since I became an entrepreneur about five years ago. If I were in Dubai I would probably dress more conservatively so I can feel more comfortable and out of respect for whatever social setting I am in.
 
EV: What has been your biggest accomplishment with Zvelle so far?
 
EAZ: The biggest accomplishment is those women love our shoes and what we are offering and how we are doing it resonates with them.
 
EV: Where would you like to see Zvelle in 5 years from now and are there any imminent plans for the company that you can share with us?
 
EAZ: I would love for Zvelle to grow organically and in our own way. We want to expand our product offerings and our reach so as long as we are on that trajectory we are happy.
 
EV: What kind of women is a Zvelle customer?
 
EAZ: The Zvelle woman is independent, professional and always going places (figuratively and literally).
 
EV: How would you describe Zvelle in one sentence?
 
EAZ: Zvelle is a global luxury brand for sophisticated women who are confident and have a strong personal vision.
 
As the interview comes to an end, I ask Elle, if she had any advice for a new designer, what would it be and she tells me:


 “I would say be who you want to be and do what you want to do. It will take some time to be confident in your own skin but once you are there you’ll never want to go back. Be prepared to have your heart broken and be ready to nurse your own heart back to health. It’s worth it.” ​

Beautiful and wise words to live by, designer or not. 
 
Thank you so much for your time, Elle.


To find out more about Zvelle or to purchase the collection visit their website 
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For more pictures on how I chose to style the Nelson Arrow Flats click here 
​For the Rayna Slingback Kitten Heels click here 
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    By
    STACY FAN 



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