British menswear designer Bianca Saunders Thursday unveiled its inaugural footwear range in collaboration with the Portuguese Association of Footwear and Leather Goods.
With manufacturing partner Valuni, a footwear brand based in São João da Madeira, a region on the outskirts of Porto, Saunders was able to reinterpret her modern take on men’s design, which often involves mixing sartorial silhouettes with British Caribbean traditions, into six styles of shoes — including loafers, mid-boots, and high bridge trainers.
The footwear collection will make its debut at the designer’s spring 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week Men’s next month, which marks her return to the men’s calendar. The ANDAM Fashion Prize winner in 2021 presented her fall ’24 collection in March during Paris Fashion Week.
Saunders said that because of Valuni’s well-rounded production capability, she was able to materialize prototypes from her sketches within weeks. Previously, she collaborated with At. Kollektive on a capsule with an element of footwear.
“Valuni’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship perfectly aligns with our values. Collaborating on this inaugural footwear collection is an exciting new chapter for us as a brand, and its extensive expertise has been instrumental in bringing our vision to life,” added Saunders.
The partnership was the result of the Portuguese Association of Footwear and Leather Goods’s effort to connect more British designers with Portuguese manufacturers.
Paulo Gonçalves, communications director at the organization, which has over 700 members from different sectors of the trade, noted that the Portuguese footwear industry will invest 600 million euros by the end of the decade to establish itself as a major hub for footwear production.
“Building partnerships with globally renowned designers is an incredible opportunity and we are honored to support Saunders in creating her dream footwear collection showcasing her unique talent and contemporary aesthetic,” added Gonçalves.
