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 The embodiment of the innovative spirit of the MIDEC exhibition, IMAGINE builds the link between the worlds of creativity and industry, offering an area for expression to new and established designers. Wanting to stimulate interaction between creativity and industry, Imagine at Midec has always taken a fresh look at design by acting as a forum for young or more experienced designers. The area offers opportunities to discover new talent and new brands.The area spread has 3 focal points, each with its own identity: iMAGINE rising stars, iMAGINE en duo and iMAGINE creative labels.
iMAGINE rising stars
Natural inspiration and poetic atmosphere bring forward new concepts suggested by young talented designers launching themselves into the adventure of shoe creation. ISABELLE BORDJI
Isabelle Bordji gives any woman who chooses her light wedges a shapely leg and pretty ankle. Grown-ups can do anything: a futuristic, new wave, baroque, ethnic look … in short, happiness is a high heel. FIDES CAVAN
After a time with Martin Margiela, Fidès Cavan presented us with his Arts & Crafts sneaker concept. His challenge? To turn the democratic-universal-unisex-multi generation 20th-century shoe into a vector for personal and contemporary expression. PATRICIA CRUZ
Patricia Cruz is Brazilian. Her world is one of dance, seduction and torrid passion! Shoes come in male-female pairs, elegant and light-footed as on the dance floor: made for a tango, tap dance, flamenco… LUCIE GAMARD
Lucie Gamard takes us into a fun techno-urban world. Her hybrid or genetically engineered models combine the femininity of a ballerina and the technical prowess of a sneaker for running lightly over the pavement. NAIRA AGABABYAN
Naira Agababyan comes from Moscow. She takes a double take on that great cult model, the long boot, from a constructivist and deconstructivist point of view. A style with a strong tradition open to the contemporary world. LES CLAKETTS DE BERNARD CHAIZE
This ethical beach sandal deserves praise for its twofold potential: it can be recycled and personalised over and over again. A dozen designers were invited to give it a facelift: Zaza Factory, Ron Orb, Facteur Celeste, Jack Gomme, Odette Bombardier, Impasse de la Défense, sKara.b, Midori Masuda, Françoise Téthiot, Sophie Paumelle, l’Association Art Genf, An Van Hove and Jobeck. iMAGINE en duo
A factory atmosphere, remembered objects and polished concrete speak of developing industrial expertise as well as product which has grown from the link between companies in this sector and designers who exhibited last season in the IMAGINE rising stars area. KAREN BACHELET & KAID & ISO
Karen Bachelet alias sKara.b and KAID & ISO, a Spanish children’s brand, have gone into partnership. Together they have concocted a magic collection for little girls: dream shoes for turning into fairies, ballerinas, princesses depending on the whim of the moment. ROSA MOSA & RICHTER
RICHTER is an Austrian brand of upmarket innovative children’s shoes. It invites international designers and orthopaedists to work together on high-quality footwear for today’s children. This season Rosa Mosa has contributed by encouraging the use of its favourite natural materials. YOKO NAKAYAMA & TERRAPLANA
Yoko Nakayama is back with his Shuseball this time made by TERRAPLANA. You will remember this two-in-one design concept, which delighted us last February: the baseball comes undone to make a pair of unisex sandals. A clever device with new packaging for the occasion. GILDAS GUILLOU & KIALE
Gildas Guillou and KIALE live in similar worlds combining rusticity and modernity, handcrafts and industry. Under the brand YET, Gildas now offers a line of five masculine models for “urban nomads without frontiers”. PHILIPPE SCHLERET & KIALE
The Gyro Gearloose of fashion looked to KIALE to make his Bijoushoe. The sandal-jewel, before turning us into goddesses, has taken its place in a new setting. MARYSE BOYER & PROJET COMMUN
MARYSE BOYER & MARITHE + FRANCOIS GIRBAUD
Maryse Boyer in partnership with PROJET COMMUN took her inspiration from cultural roots, the primitive arts and the know-how of different continents. This collection is for feminine, city women, who care about protecting other cultures. Maryse Boyer for MARITHE + FRANCOIS GIRBAUD Enfant has explored the imaginative world of childhood. The designer has taken inspiration from people who like to recreate, invent and make things and hunt out marvellous treasures. iMAGINE creative labels
Clean structure and neon colours showcase young established designers who are still trying to make a name for themselves and to develop new contacts. KAHENA
Gaiters add dash. Three years ago Natalie de Angelis decided to update this forgotten accessory. Mini grandfather style, maxi thigh boot style, in glamour, chic, rustic or exuberant versions. New for summer 2007: a glazed linen collection in three colours. More than a functional accessory, a fashion accessory. PLASTICANA
An ecological approach. On the initiative of André Ravachol, plastic shoes reinforced with hemp fibres, in biodegradable and 100% recyclable packaging. Five models to please large and small, including a remake – Plasticana style – of the old jellies and flip flops. OTTO ET MOI
A feminine women’s collection inspired this season by Parisian pastries. Each shoe is a dessert, a cake or a tart – lovingly made as Valérie Esperse promises. The young Spanish brand imposes a very personal style, retro-modern, a joyful mix of materials, decoration and colours. Mouth-watering! STANLOWA
The dance story, on stage and in the street. All tenderness and colour, the official supplier for the pupils of the Opera Ballet School dips into the dance world: very supple lambskin ballet shoes, fairytale ballerinas strewn with rhinestones and glitter, for home, city or evening wear. Ballet music, colour and lots of dazzle fall from Isabelle Stanlowa’s magic wand. SA TIPICA
A Minorcan tradition. The Island of Minorca’s most popular sandals cross the seas. Hand stitched and 100% hand crafted, the authentic avarca is simple, comfortable and natural from size 18 up. Even in its most festive garb, the legendary sandal loses none of its authenticity. LISA CARLE
Romans designers meet a leather specialist. A new brand for modern, feminine women who like beautiful shoes. Amazon, glamour or baby-doll, inspired by Klimt, BB, Marilyn or Manolo Valdes, the collection has fun mixing unusual materials, gold and glitter but never falls into the trap of ostentatious luxury. STRING REPUBLIC
The espadrille goes arty. For its third season, String Republic explores the brand’s key concept: the traditional espadrille as a graphic art medium. About 50 models signed by international designers and artists, a collection of espadrilles extended to children, wedges and ballerinas. |
