“A shoe is a story disguised as an object.”

by Elena Brennan June 27, 2020

“A shoe is a story disguised as an object."

OBJET DU DÉSIR by Coclico

Coclico speaks to a personal identity that extends beyond style and luxury to their way of living in the world. Consciously, artfully, elegantly. Coclico believes that luxury isn’t the ability to purchase endlessly, but the privilege of choosing wisely. Their materials are sourced locally in Europe, near their small, family-run factory in Spain.

In their headquarters in NYC, they not only work to underpin the design process behind each collection but also seek the highest standards of ethical and environmental responsibility. The result is a union of modern minimalism and traditional quality.

Coclico founder Sandra Canselier descends from a long line of French shoemakers; her father, grandfather and great-grandfather all made shoes in the province of Pays de la Loire. It is the region’s local wildflower coquelicot that lends its name to the company. Now a firmly entrenched New Yorker, Sandra continues making shoes in the French tradition.

a look at what's new & b e a u t i f u l from COCLICO

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If you fall in love with any of the styles simply click here

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Coclico is the epitome of approachable luxury & understated elegance. Elena first discovered designer Sandra Canselier's shoe brand a few years before she even opened. In fact, the day she actually met Sandra at Sole Commerce at The Javits in NYC, she was wearing a pair of Coclico black knee high boots & she has carried her gorgeous styles at BUS STOP ever since then. Coclico was our first sustainable & ethically-made shoe brand at the boutique. Every shoe is handmade in supple vegetable-tanned leathers with accents of eco-friendly materials, like the signature Coclico hand-carved wooden heels.

Coclico's Spring/Summer 2020 collection focuses on subtly & wearability with that recognizable elegance & luxurious touch. They are buttery soft style for you to feel really special in & live in...

We chatted to our friend Sandra Canselier about her brand, the design process, & so much more.

How did your journey as a shoe designer begin? Who inspired you to design, what was your first shoe design?

I come from a family of shoemakers, so I feel my path was almost predetermined. I pushed against it when I was younger, but destiny has a way of drawing you back in. I come more from the background of production and merchandising, my passion is for turning designs and customer needs into reality. I partner closely with Coclico's long time designer to bring the collection to life.

Describe your brand in 3 words

Modern, Minimal, Sustainable.

How do you stand out in the industry?

We are a specialty brand with a focus only on footwear. We build full collections of 60 or so styles a season, which is a rather old fashioned approach. These days brands will often only have 5 or 6 styles but churn them out in a dozen colors. We enjoy offering a variety of styles, to be well rounded just like our customer is. While we're not quite a one-stop-shop, Coclico fans can cover most of their bases with us. What is also very rare in this approach is that every one of those 60 styles is made in a limited run, so you could very well be one of just 12 women in the world to own that special item. I think that speaks to the individuality of the women who love Coclico.

When you think of your customer, what does she look like? How old is she? Where does she work? What are her hobbies?

These days we have a lot of data points, and that is wonderful! But actually, all this data has only confirmed what we already suspected: how beautifully diverse our customer base is. All have in common being inquisitive and independent in spirit. We ship with love to North Carolina graphic designers, stay-at-home mom's in Chicago, San Francisco tech moguls, and Texas scientists. We have long served our loyal New York City customers in our stores who range from 25-75, and we are thrilled to host international tourists who tell us Coclico was a "must" for their visit to the city. We dearly hope we will be seeing all their faces again sooner than later.

What trends do you see emerging for footwear in the Autumn/Winter of 2020?

Luckily we were already really vibing shearling, and flats, and styles that were supremely practical without being boring. I would suspect that the demand we saw for that kind of look in FW19 will only grow!

What is your favorite color shoe to wear?

I'm partial to ecru and shades of white.

What's your favorite style of shoe you've ever created and why?

We aren't supposed to pick favorites amongst our children. But personally I'm a big fan of oxfords, so styles like our HOLMES FLAT always make me happy. Especially when they are a smash hit with our customers like the HOLMES is!

Do customers shop with you because of your sustainable practices, or does that seem to be an added bonus / selling point once they are shopping for Coclico?

Sustainability isn't a driving force in sales, I do it because it's important to me. Surely all our customers are proud to wear ethically made shoes, but ultimately people buy our shoes because they love the aesthetic and comfort.

What advice would you give to someone that wants to design their own shoes?

If its something you're looking to make a career out of it's important to remember successful design looks to the customer as the ultimate inspiration and muse.

Which is your favorite city or place in the world?

New York City, I can't wait to see it reborn.

Beauty evolves from the union of quality and time.