Women’s Shoe Designer Jon Josef…at boutiqueMMM, Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, TN

The Beginning…As told by Jon 

“I grew up in a small town in Spain where the largest industry was shoe manufacturing. My mother’s family owned a predominant factory and my parents owned their own shop. I spent many summers learning about the intricacies of creating and selling shoes. I watched my parents sell the product day to day and saw firsthand the way a simple pair of shoes affected each customer. It became apparent to me which details women liked & didn’t like, the quality and cut of the shoe that resulted in comfort or its allure. These were the most important part of creating the product.

By age 16 I officially started working in the family business, spending my summer holidays in my family’s factory, packing shoe boxes and running errands. I worked my way up from the bottom, noting every detail throughout each step of the process. I learned everything from selecting and cutting leather to final quality approvals to the importance of packaging.

I definitely believe that it was the combination of first hand experience, hard work and years of being immersed in the industry that enabled me to build a collection that I am truly proud of”.

Jons’ Approach

Syles have to easily transition from day into night. They have to be not only unique and beautiful but versatile and functional. While we always say “a classic pump is the most multi-faceted silhouette you can own”, I always like to spice things up with more daring design elements.

The heel height and the curve in the insole are two of the most important factors in making a shoe easy to wear throughout the day while still elongating the leg and flattering the foot. I take every small detail into consideration prior to finalizing the collection.

Design Technique

First, it depends on the season and the fashion tendencies at the time. Fall collections are often more difficult as the last construction for a heeled bootie is much more involved than say a flat sandal. I work with collaborators in Spain and our factories to ensure that we are always at the forefront of the trends and executing those trends in the most comfortable and accessible ways possible. The design is the foundation but the people who translate those designs into actual shoes (pattern makers, factory workers, etc.) are equally as important in creating the perfect outcome. Equally as important is listening to your customers, especially women as they help define the shoes that they enjoy wearing the most.

My Inspiration

Inspiration comes from all directions. Various elements drawn from nature, the vibrant colors reminiscent of growing up in Spain, the way women walk with confidence in their shoes, each piece plays an integral role in a constantly evolving collection.

The Future

We’re placing an increased importance on connecting personally with the women who wear our shoes, and with the recent launching of our Facebook and Twitter pages, we are striving to get yet even closer. Once we have a large enough following, I hope to utilize these forums as a place to give women a behind the scenes look into my work and my mind by giving them opportunities to engage with each other and respond to the designs being developed.

Who knows? We might even have some exciting giveaways as well. That, and of course continuing to work hard to introduce incredible, innovative designs that keep women walking with style and comfort.

At boutiqueMMM we are pleased to offer select JJ shoes.