Few design houses can boast of having such an iconic name as Carel. An exceptionally successful Parisian footwear brand in the '60s, the label then went through a slightly quieter patch in the mid-90s. Aligned with the latest trends for several seasons now, it's once again a key player.
Founded in 1952 by Georges Carel, the shoe label quickly established itself as an elegant and chic footwear designer, employing traditional techniques and offering timeless styling. Located in proximity of the Sorbonne in Paris, the first store attracted fresh-faced young girls, looking for an original pair of shoes. The label's first success was the Marquis, a round-toed ballerina design, adorned with a grosgrain ribbon bow at the front. A model that remains a best-seller today.
Renowned in the world of fashion designers, Carel also quickly made its name among ready-to-wear designers who called on the label to provide footwear for their runway shows. Carel shoe designs stepped onto the podiums of Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
Since its inception, the label's true strength lies in its ability to produce colourful designs with humorous touches. Its most telling creation? The Topo ballet flats. A model featuring little mouse ears and a nose, enough to get a giggle out of anyone who slips them on. The sparkly Estime ankle boot, a favourite of the singer Christine and the Queens and clients alike, as is the Kina, a three-strap Mary Jane model. Photographed by Jeanloup Sieff in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the brand, which produces 80% of its stock in Italy, was bought by Frédérique Picard in 2010. Under his leadership, the label made its comeback, with several collaborations introducing stunningly chic new designs, appealing to an entirely new generation along with the label's original fans.