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Of Irish/Mexican decent, Calleen Cordero's passion for
footwear was ignited at the age of fifteen when
she began working in a high-end boutique in Northern
California as a sales assistant. By the age of sixteen
Cordero was traveling to Europe. Next she moved into
Marketing and Sales, helping to create markets for the
footwear lines of several well-known American designers.
In 2001, Cordero finally decided to bring her own talent
for design into the limelight.
The result of the endeavor has been a blending of Cordero's
own down to earth flair with a love of the finest quality
and high fashion. "After years of immersion in the industry,
I was ready to create a new kind of shoe, the kind of shoe
that I myself was looking to wear, but could never find"
says the designer. "I've always been impressed by the utility
and authenticity of good handmade footwear. At the same
time, the level of artistry and finesse employed by Italian
shoe makers has always turned my head. I wanted to
revive and reinvent that tradition of old world craftsmanship
and attention to detail. I strive to wed comfort, authenticity
and beauty, and deliver luxury in every sense of the word."
Handmade in North Hollywood, California, her glamorously
casual designs feature handsculpted wooden bottoms and
hand molded leather soles. Cordero's work also displays a
love of combining the unexpected. "I'm inspired by the
material themselves." she states. "I've been designing my
own leather in Italy, and let the inherent beauty of the
leather dictate the direction that my designs will take."
In the last two years her limited production collections have
found their way onto the feet of such celebrities as Sheryl
Crow, Michelle Pfeiffer, Renee Zelleweger, Kelly Preston,
Goldie Hawn and the Olsen Twins. |
