Daily disguises

In many countries around the world, it’s Carnival season! A time for flipping the usual social hierarchy on its head, switching out traditional roles and creating new identities through the art of disguise by donning a mask.
This makes me think about the use of “camouflage” even in everyday life – something that seems increasingly unavoidable for everyone. We all resort to wearing a mask, big or small, every day, sometimes without even realising it. We’ve totally internalised the saying that “clothes make the man”; we try to present ourselves in a way that matches what others expect from us. From our appearance to our clothing, from the places we visit to the habits we adopt, we aim to be seen as “acceptable” in a certain public context or lifestyle. We end up tiptoeing around life, only feeling truly ourselves in the comfort of our own home.

But what would happen if we occasionally dropped the mask and revealed who we really are? What would happen if we ditched the mask of clichéd perfection through which others see us? Sure, it takes some guts to subscribe to this “revolution”, but sometimes you don’t even need to go overboard with the rebelliousness – you can start with just a few details that express a personality capable of breaking free from expectations.

This is always on my mind when I’m crafting my shoes. I try to make them a bastion of uniqueness, even with models that draw inspiration from classic styles. I like to make them recognisable, so they don't go unnoticed, while also expressing a simultaneously reassuring and surprising identity, mirroring the person wearing them. 

To those of you who wear them, I say be creative. Let your personality shine. Play around with discovery and enjoy the intimate pleasure of being yourselves, feeling comfortable in own your shoes, and happy in your own skin.

Marco