Turkish designers Merve and Beste Manastir on their leap from bags to shoes...
Why the big accessory shift?
As the designers of Manu Atelier, we had a woman in our minds when we created the brand. For us, bags have always been special, since we grew up in the workshop watching our father designing and crafting them. We wanted to complement them with shoes that have the Manu aesthetic and brand values such as quality, design and craftsmanship for the modern woman to enjoy to the fullest.
How long has this been in the making?
We spent almost two years in development before launching the shoes. The casts were the hardest part for us. Both of us are obsessed with creating the right shape and elegant appearance, but we also wanted to keep the price range affordable as much as we could. It took a lot of time to find the right craftsmen to create the right pair of shoes.
Tell us about the new shapes...
We wanted to keep the number reasonable, so we launched five models, but of course with many colour options like we do with our bags: it’s our signature. There’s the Manu Lace-up Boots, Manu Mules and Manu Loafers. We wanted to give modern updates to classic styles; to give the feeling of confidence and joy with playful patterns, cut details and most importantly a lightweight feeling on the feet.
How did you learn about manufacturing?
We were exposed to the raw talent of our father, Adnan Manastir, one of Turkey’s oldest artisans, who created leather goods by hand at his atelier in Istanbul from the age of 11. He taught us the importance of craftsmanship, and of course because we spent so much time in the atelier when he was making admirable pieces, we knew that we wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Now, take a look at Gucci's new jewellery campaign.
