Positive globalization. A cultural melting pot, an exchange of know-how between Italian craftsmanship and African spirit. This is the Susana Traça‘s leitmotiv, former model and now designer, which from Angola, her native land, has brought a new vision, a new spirit in making shoes with a sporty allure but definitely innovative, such as the Milho Step model made with banana fibers and presented at EXPO 2015 this summer.
Interview with Susana Traça:
From wear clothes and accessories to create your own, especially shoes. How did you live this step?
As a beautiful turn of individual growth. I searched and found in me the courage to finally dictate my fashion and reinterpreting trends according to my personal taste. It was something natural, an almost obligatory after my attention was increasingly kidnapped by the colors, their combinations and geometric shapes present in my collections.
In June you presented at EXPO model Milho Step made of banana fiber in of your land’s pavilion, Angola. When and why did you think of this pattern? What was the feedback from the public?
Talking with my staff, we saw it was possible to create a model with banana fibers and so we did the Milho Step, and it is thanks to all my team I have to say. Both the audience and the experts were pleasantly surprised to see my model combined with a best seller model with this material not often used in the world of footwear.
Shoes are an important accessory, often define a look. What is the added value of your models?
Surely the fact that make the look more stronger because of their peculiarity.
How much of the Angola’s spirito lives in your spring / summer 2016?
Surely this, together with the collection of 2012, I think it’s the one closest to my origins, to the colors, the shapes used, the cultural context. The theme is inspired by African Mask and recalls the strong symbolism of the masks used during our ceremonies.
You have just attended White Show during the fashion week in Milan. What are the feelings that you left? Do you think the fashion industry is opening up for you emerging designers?
White is definitely a major trade show which is relaunching the international scene thanks to an excellent strategy by Massimiliano Bizzi and Francesca Cella. Compared to other years, I have noticed a revival of attention not only to the trade fair and Milan, this year venue of many international initiatives, but also to us coming designers. It’s our time!
Future projects?
Open a flag-ship store, which “where” is yet to be determined. Increase the distribution network because today we are present only in twenty countries and also have an increasing involvement in charity activities undertaken till now.
ph courtesy: press office
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