The inspiration behind any Fiorentini + Baker collection cannot be attributed to a particular theme or event and certainly does not conform to any trend. It evolves from a subconscious process, sparked by an old piece of furniture, a film or a peculiar piece of architecture. English born shoe designer, Deborah Baker wanted to spare her creations from the somewhat futile world of fashion, resolving instead to generate a movement of people who wanted something enduring, not ephemeral.
The design process is two-fold; creativity combined with durability - the results are simple, yet quite beautiful. Fiorentini and Baker are one of the few remaining designers who draw on the skills of Italy’s artisan shoemakers. It is a trade for which the country is famed for, yet one rapidly disappearing. The small, family run factories, where the shoes are produced, are a world away from the glossy magazines and glamorous worldwide boutiques where they inevitably end up. But perhaps it is this detachment from the fashion scene that ultimately gives the shoes their undeniable edge.
An equally important strand of the Fiorentini and Baker philosophy is the use of quality materials. One-off pieces of vintage fabrics, soft, supple leather and velvet smooth suede adorn the shoes and boots. It’s these characteristics; combined with an uncompromising attention to detail that has become the signature of every Fiorentini and Baker collection.