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Exclusive: The Fierce Diaries’ Nadya Hasan Debuts Shoe Collection

Behind the diminutive and polished frame of Emirati influencer Nadya Hasan of The Fierce Diaries, is a young woman bursting with drive and beholding a decidedly pointed talent for design. Here, Style.com/Arabia exclusively reveals her debut shoe collection and Nadya Hasan speaks with Caterina Minthe about launching her passion project, which has been two years in the making

CATERINA MINTHE: What first prompted you to cross over from influencer to designer?

NADYA HASAN: I’ve always known that I wanted to be part of fashion; blogging was my gateway to making a mark in the industry. But I also knew that I wanted to create something much more significant from my creative vision and deep, uncontrollable love for shoes—thus, the footwear line was born.

We’re used to seeing you in heels and can’t help but be surprised to see you design such a wide variety of beautiful flat-soled shoes.

Yes, I do love a great pair of heels and have a room full of them. I think that is what really drove me to create a collection that features a varied selection of flats. I could never find the right color or shape worth spending my money on; and it was a meticulous yet enjoyable process to create pairs that I would love and be able to share with others.

The shoes are inspired by the roaring ‘20s; what is it about this era that appeals to you?

When I started working on the design of the shoes, I really wanted to bring back the ‘20s. The women from that era were simply fabulous—I wish that I was a part of that time. Their style was a mix of masculine and feminine and the ‘20s also made a significant mark on the fashion industry; hemlines were cut above the ankle and women paid more attention to wearing shoes that they could show off. As for future collections, they won’t necessarily be odes to previous decades—I like to be inspired instinctively.

What has been the most challenging aspect of this process thus far?

The production [Editor’s note: Nadya Hasan shoes are Made in Italy]. Shoes aren’t as simple to create as clothing is; and, it takes a lot of time and creativity to set my collection apart from other designers’ because we are all somewhat bound to the same silhouettes.

Designing shoes is quite technical—how did you go about mastering the design process?

It is a hard technique to master and I am still learning everyday. I’ve hired an artist to help me with the process and together we are able to create something much more exciting for the next collection.

The designs feature a very strong play on fusing various textures.

I visited Milan earlier this year for a textile exhibition and was overwhelmed by all the different fabrics and skins available. I fell in love with the river snake and pony hair. They might sound quite rugged, but they completely elevate the texture and feel of the shoes. Mixing pony with calf leather was just something I wanted to test out and I was completely enchanted when I got the sample. Meanwhile, the ribbons are meant to add a feminine touch.

What are the signature shoes for you from this debut collection?

I really hoped that the Lulus (pointed brogues) would be the stand outs, but it looks like everyone’s fallen for the Rodhas (sling-back court shoe with ribbon detail). Who can resist a great pair of heels?

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