HighSnobette Exclusive I Atalanta Weller Interview

Atalanta Weller Portrait by Mark Cocksedge

Atalanta Weller, A Passion For Design.

If there is one thing that can get me excited about fashion, it’s the shoes. Not just any generic, run of the mill shoes, but the kind that make you just want to stare in admiration of their design, craftmanship and innovation.

Born in a small town of Gloucestershire England Atalanta Weller, who is now based in Hoxton, was a logical choice for our first feature as her designs for The House of Holland, and her personal projects, perfectly illustrate a kind of footwear creation that elevates shoe design from functionality into art. HighSnobette believes the name of this relative newcomer to the fashion spotlight will be on every tongue, and on the feet of every fashionable female with a taste for the edgy and uncommon.

 Read our exclusive interview with Atalanta Weller, on the next page.

Atalanta Weller Woven Globes , Photo by Amy Gwatkin

S-Atalanta , You created quite a stir in the fashion world with your automotive derived shoes a couple of years ago, and everyone is talking about your creations for Henry Holland. Did you expect to receive such attention?

Atalanta-No not at all. I’m really just interested in pushing boundaries with footwear, though it has been very nice and it is appreciated.

S-We know that you love the structure, the skill and technique required in footwear design. Is that your primary form of artistic expression or do you venture into other fields?

Atalanta-I’m really interested in other areas of art and design, from hats and underwear to furniture and cars, but as of now I’m very happy focusing my attentions on footwear.

Atalanta Weller Woven Balls By Amy Gwatkin

S-What is the most rewarding part of the creative process for you? And would have any word of advice for a woman in footwear design?

Atalanta-I love the initial part, coming up with new ideas is always really exciting, though developing those ideas into something workable takes time and persistence, so if I had to give anyone advice I would say be patient but persistent and hopefully the results will be good.

S-Do you want to eventually make your creations more available through bigger production or do you wish to remain somewhat exclusive, if I can use this term?

Atalanta-I worked with Henry o our shoes for autumn/Winter ‘09, which looked great. I also love doing one -off sculptural pieces and I’m working on a number of projects in this area at the moment.

There are various plans in the pipeline for my own line, which are looking really exciting, I don’t want to say too much about that now as its still in its infancy, but it is exciting!

Atalanta Weller Sculptural shoes , Photo by Amy Gwatkin

S-Hands down, who is your favorite footwear brand,designer or style? Do you wear your creations? Sneakers ever? If so which ones?

Atalanta-I have lot of different designers,I’ve always really admired . Salvatore Ferregamo and I think Pierre Hardy is great too. Camper are doing some fantastic shoes at the moment too. I do wear my own shoes–of course!! Although my all time favorite day to day shoes are some over the knee square toed cowboys boots I picked up in Brazil a few years ago–totally irreplaceable. I never wear sneakers outside of the gym!

Atalanta Weller for House Of Holland Spring 2009

S-Are there any footwear trends/styles that you are not so fond of on men or women? Do you find that you pay special attention to peoples’ shoes?

I think shoes say a lot about a person and I always like to look at a person’s shoes when I meet them, though it can be hard to do so without looking rude! Some shoes look better than others, but I think mostly it’s about how you wear them.

Atalanta Weller for House of Holland is available in stores at the start this week – at Seven in New york (above), and Confederacy in LA as well as Browns in London among others.

Thank You Atalanta!