Best foot forward

Best foot forward

Footwear designer Juveca Panda’s designs are inspired by the bold and beautiful women of today. Keeping the designs unique, the brand Misfit Panda, however, does not compromise on the comfort level. After a great show at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive 2018, in collaboration with fashion designer Kartikeya, the brand is all set to present their glamorous festive collection.
 
“I couldn’t have asked for a better platform to showcase and launch Misfit Panda’s collection of party and bridal footwear. Not only did our debut show get great visibility and coverage, it also allowed me to connect with established buyers all over India. It was overwhelming to put together a great collection for the ramp, and to be a part of the fashion event really pushed me to think outside the box in terms of creativity and execution. It was exciting, and a great learning experience for the team,” expresses Panda.
 
Titled Amor Em Lisboa, the collection is all about romance and drama, inspired by Portuguese art and architecture. “It is an amalgamation of old world charm and modern day feminist spirit to create tastefully ornate footwear with the comfort of a classic shoe. The baroque-inspired motifs designed in-house are intricately laser cut in various materials such as vegan suede and textured shimmer fabrics. What makes the detailing even more beautiful and distinctive is the 3D appliqué technique that is used to make the range of wedges, heeled sandals, pumps and boots come to life, exuding an aura of glamour and confidence on and off the ramp,” explains Panda, who also makes sure that all her pieces stay true to the brand’s motto —  ‘Be You. Be True. Be Misfit’.
 
Talking about the special 3D appliqué technique used to carve the shoes, Panda explains, “The 3D appliqué technique is involved in designing the artwork for the baroque-inspired motifs. After the design is done, this method is used to have the motifs intricately laser cut on different vegan materials. The motifs are then fused with thin wires so that we can mould and shape the flat motif to give it a 3D look and feel. It really brings the shoe to life.”
 
Whether you have to attend a wedding, or a family get-together, a perfect pair of shoes plays a vital role. However, out of experience, we all know that gorgeous shoes are the least comfortable. That said, there are exceptions that combine comfort with great looks. Comfort plays an important role when it comes to shoes and the brand has got that part covered. “I had personally grown tired of wearing shoes that looked fabulous but were uncomfortable to walk in. If I wanted comfort, I had to make do with footwear that don’t look so great. It made me think ‘why does comfort equate to basic looking designs?’ In this day and age when we can have it all, why should women have to deal with a ‘bad shoe day’ if they want to be comfortable or a ‘bad foot day’ if they want to strut in a gorgeous pair?” says she adding, “More than our clothes, it’s our shoes that get us through our fast-paced days. Which is why fit, comfort and design are all important. All Misfit Panda shoes have extra insole padding built in for added comfort. And when it comes to heels, we have a wide range offering block heels and wedges in different styles. All of them have an element of glamour in the form of shimmer, hand painted artwork, laser-cut motifs or sassy embroidered slogans such ‘Boss Lady’, ‘Drama Queen’ and so on.” 

Panda aspires to create a one-stop-shop for the different kinds of footwear a woman needs in her wardrobe. The designer feels that such a variety, where comfort is not compromised, is lacking in the industry.  “In terms of my future plans for Misfit Panda, I want to create a one-stop shop for all the different kinds of footwear a woman needs in her wardrobe, something that the footwear market in India is currently lacking. Given that Misfit Panda’s collections are inspired by bold and confident women breaking barriers everyday, I want my brand’s distinctive footwear to change the consumers’ mindset of shopping mostly international high-street and luxury footwear brands because they feel the quality and options are far better abroad, which might not always be the case. The idea is to eventually transform footwear in India with Misfit Panda’s comfortable yet stylish footwear that is versatile enough to complement both ethnic and Western wear. I want real women to put their best foot forward, talk about their untold stories and feel like a ‘boss lady’ while they walk the talk,” says Panda.
 
Shoes by Misfit Panda are easily available on websites like Ajio, Koovs and Kraftly.com.
 

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