MELBOURNE:Windsor Smith has been paying close attention to the international runway circuit.
The Melbourne-headquartered footwear brand revealed a dramatic new look for the autumn/winter 2009 season with a capsule collection of fast fashion styles. The eight-piece collection would make its retail debut from April, alongside Windsor Smith's more classic footwear offerings.
Design and marketing coordinator Natasha Harry said the brand was aiming for a more trend-driven direction.
"The Windsor Smith name has a very strong, positive brand recall amongst the public due to a long history of good quality, affordable fashion shoes - we will always incorporate our more classic styles, but with attitude.
"We have been travelling around the world and following the worldwide catwalk trends and eight key items are at the heart of this new look."
Harry said the past year had also seen the brand create experimental looks at its Melbourne Windsor Smith Gallery store, before rolling them out into the mainstream. The autumn/winter range would see its "tough" new look debut nationwide with a selection of platform ankle boots, gladiator sandals and shoe boots priced from $120 to $330.
Manufactured at the company's factory in China, both the capsule and traditional range featured leather uppers, linings and quality soles. Harry said the more ambitious styles incorporated hardware and would be available in muted tones of blacks, olives and browns.
The Windsor Smith umbrella included men's and women's offerings as well as the 'Lipstick' footwear brand. Australian stockists comprised department store David Jones, shoe chain Williams and a flagship Windsor Smith store in Melbourne's Chapel Street.