100-year-old Parisian shoemaker to relaunch
02/03/2022
Ms Kocher, also the founder of high-end contemporary fashion label Koché and creative director of Chanel-owned couture feather and flower-maker Lemarié, told WWD: “It’s wonderful to wake up a sleeping beauty with an incredible history, heritage and legitimacy.”
French footwear group Royer acquired the shoe company in 2009 and most recently tried to relaunch it in 2017, when a since-closed boutique on Place de la Madeleine in the French capital was opened. A new Parisian location will open its doors in time for the brand’s relaunch, WWD reported.
Drawing from the brand’s archives, Ms Kocher has adopted a 1970s-era brand logo as a key motif and focused on making metallic heels - most of which are around 1.5 inches high - “like little sculptures”, inspired by minimalist art and architecture. Bouclé wool, jacquard and embossed satin (to appear like ostrich leather) all feature within her debut autumn-winter collection.
“For people who work in the sector, Charles Jourdan is a major reference,” the designer continued. “But I didn’t want to focus on the past, but rather project it into the future. There’s a certain classicism and timelessness in the lines, but at the same time, a boldness and impertinence in the choice of materials and colours.
“I wanted the brand to be bright, optimistic and geared towards new customers.”
Charles Jourdan footwear is now manufactured in Italy, following the closure of its historic factory in the now-dormant shoemaking hub of Romans-sur-Isère in south-eastern France.
Image: Charles Jourdan via Vestiaire Collective.
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