Shoe designer spotlight: Gigi Favela
February 7, 2009 by StephinitelyShuz
Filed under Designer Spotlight
Meet Gigi Favela:
Following her dream to design highly wearable shoes that women would love, Monica Favela George left the corporate world of proposal writing. She took an intensive intro-to-shoes workshop (which her husband gifted for her 30th birthday), and headed to Europe armed only with her color theory and sculptural design background.
To realize her vision of becoming a shoe designer, she knocked on doors and asked the right people about small-quantity, artisinal factories until the right high quality Italian shoe factory presented itself. Encouraged by her team members; husband Bijoy who is CFO and head techie and 5-year old daughter Gabriella “Gigi” George who provides attitude checks and laughs, the first Gigi Favela collection premiered in 2006.
Best shot we got. Did we mention the Lady likes her Gelato? She does and with her pic she sent, “I love ice cream second only to shoes!” She’s witty too.
What is the Gigi Favela philosophy?
She keeps it simple and uses innovative materials. “Wearability is key, so I keep heel heights walk-able and use Poron® anti-shock/comfort material in the footbed to absorb impact.”
Give us 5 words describing your design style:
“Highly wearable fashion-fresh lovelies.”
Why Shoes?
“The love of the shoe. Specifically, the love of the HEEL.” Favela George adds, “Try as I may to embrace the lower heel, I will always love the sculptural aspects and confidence that heels bring to a woman’s wardrobe.”
What’s new for spring 2009?
Five seasons after her first, she may have just designed her best and brightest shoe collection with the hand-painted tye dye leathers and open-toe mini boot! “I’ve been designing spring boots for 3 springs, and finally they will be arriving in a big way; I’m so glad that women will be able to sport the trend via Gigi Favela.”
And your favorite?
She chimes, “My new SS09 turquoise open-toe mini-boots; the pop of color is amazing (why yes it is!), they make every outfit rock the casbah, and the 3-inch “banana perfetto” heel is 8-hour wearable. I HEART MY MINIBOOTS!”
First ’09 theme song?
“Madonna’s Burning Up circa 1983 (electro-pop fantastic); can you feel the beat?”
How does Gigi Favela give back?
Monica Favela George supports FINCA, which gives international micro-finance loans to female entrepreneurs around the world. “The women who receive these loans are helping themselves and their families find a way out of poverty and into a better life; we are all connected—we need to help each other, especially women and children.”
Travel tips?
She suggests always taking a “flat” so you’re not caught hauling around cobble stone streets ruining your stilettos and your knees. And adds, “I pack my shoes in my “Gigi Favela” dustbags to keep the street funk away from my clothes.”
And where would you go?
“Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast of Mexico; amazing sunsets, surfers catching beautiful waves, fresh piña coladas and seafood, a slow pace of life—nature lovin’ bliss—someone send me a postcard!”
Get your Gigis:
shop.gigifavela has an extensive collection of Favela’s shoe creations, and come late September Endless.com (designer brands) will boast a bevy of fall’s beauties.
Our first video interview with Monica of Gigi Favela:
