Thursday April 2, 2009

On the wild side

Pedro has come up with a new women’s collection.

FOR most women, no matter how many pairs of shoes they own, it’s never enough. Men however, claim to be more restrained and take on a more practical approach by having only the bare necessities. But it’s a tough principle to stick to when there are so many choices in the market, and guys are just as much into retail therapy as women are these days.

Here’s another option to fill your hunger for (more) shoes. From Singapore comes Pedro, the “brother” labelmate for Charles & Keith. Produced by the same company, Pedro designs men’s footwear while the latter offers women’s shoes. Established in 2005, Pedro has spread to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt and Dubai.

This season, the brand has come up with a women’s collection for spring/summer 2009 as well.

Sensual: Unique Temptations patent pumps by Pedro.

The people behind the brand feel that the market for fashion footwear and accessories for women has yet to be fully developed. So, to satisfy the huge demand from women who want to adorn their feet, Pedro is offering a line of footwear that’s elegant and sophisticated with that extra dose of femininity, to complement the men’s collection.

With this collection, it’s back to nature as animal instincts come to the fore. Animal prints and refined silhouettes meet, resulting in sartorial harmony. The footwear is uniquely crafted from rich genuine leather with luxurious embellishments. Bold structural silhouettes imbued with a spectrum of colours transform the familiar into something wild and fresh.

Giving rise to the exotic escapades is the flawless interaction of colours on opposite ends of the palette, such as nudes with flamboyant hues.Textures of luxury leather, shine or matt with high instep, bring out a dynamic attitude to the silhouettes, creating an exotic mélange.

Poolside passion: Black pumps and brown loafers

There is a wide range of open- and peep-toe heels that bring on the cool factor.

Detailing is all-important for this season’s footwear – cutaway panels and layered constructions, for instance. Combined with angular heels, the feminine and sensuous trend is played out to the max.

For the men, it’s all about the classic look, striking a balance between practicality and allure. The shape of uncomplicated, fuss-free, clean-cut designs interjected with refined details are found in a variety of forms and textures. Luxurious leather fabrics are extensively used in the collection, with added emphasis on the finer details. The classic creations are heightened with embossed textures, perforated details and coloured piping, keeping things minimalistic yet modern.

Luxurious: Zip-zap ankle boots and Classic Black oxfords.

In other words, it’s all about being practical with a touch of brash and flash!

Options for accessories include leather bags that have prominent zipper and multiple-pocket options, and classy business ties and belts with ultra-refined details. The women will have to wait for their turn, though.

Care to walk on the wild side this season?

The Pedro men and women’s collections are available at 1-Utama Shopping Centre in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.