Walking with irony in Elia Maurizi’s shoes

Solid shoes can take you far, but Elia Maurizi’s can do so and also add a touch of irony to life. Playing with gender, colours and a wide range of inspirations, Maurizi created a unisex collection based on classic and traditional designs, injecting in each of them a healthy dose of humour, fun and Pop Art.

Maurizi has come up with four main themes for his new designs in suede, deerskin, pierced and woven leathers and natural materials: his “Lemon Tree” line includes fruit-flavoured footwear entirely made with organic materials; “Who Is Billy?” draws inspiration from the 50s in America, tap dance and boogie-woogie; “I Can’t Explain My Generation” includes technological shoes that feature an audio jack and an integrated PA system, and the tobacco flavoured line “Te Quiero Mucho” mixes vintage atmospheres with Spanish influences.

Question: When did you first launch your own footwear line?
Elia Maurizi: I was born into a family of shoemakers and my father owns a company based in the Marche region, so I grew up surrounded by people with a great passion and commitment for footwear. Last June I decided to launch my own line; I had never done it before, though I had previously designed footwear for my friends or for myself. I focused on themes such as simplicity, nature and innovation and came up with a small collection. I received some positive feedback from the press and buyers, presenting my collections at Amsterdam’s Modefabriek and also in Tokyo and selling my designs all over the world from Great Britain to Holland, Italy and Japan, so I decided to develop a bigger collection. I’m usually inspired by everything that surrounds me since I think every single thing can be turned into a valid source of inspiration, so I worked on further themes, such as technology, popular culture and America in the 50s.

Question: What’s your favourite design from your S/S 2010 collection?
Elia Maurizi: The Superman loafers. They are ironic and reflect my mood and my life philosophy. People who are into my designs are probably into vintage, pop and futuristic yet quirky designs, but they also have a great sense of humour.

Question: Do you have any special plans for the future?
Elia Maurizi: I’m thinking about developing further footwear lines using natural and organic materials, though at the moment it is still not so easy to find them. I’m also working on a range of accessories and recently launched a T-shirt collection inspired by the same themes of my footwear range and limited edition footwear painted by young Argentinean artist Mariano Franzetti.