The Story Behind Vlado® Shoes
Welcome to Vlado® Shoes, your destination for bold, eclectic sneakers and shoes that make a statement. Our company was founded in 2001 with a mission to create unique footwear inspired by street culture from around the world.
The Vlado® brand was started by designer Vlado Footwear, who brought his artistic vision to life through innovative shoes that fused urban style with high-end materials. Growing up on the streets of Eastern Europe, Vlado was fascinated by the creative expression he saw in fashion, music, and art. He began designing his own shoes and selling them locally while studying shoe design in Italy.
As Vlado’s reputation grew, so did demand for his unconventional designs. He moved to the United States and launched his namesake company, quickly earning a cult following among celebrities, athletes, and fashionistas drawn to the rebellious spirit of the shoes.
Today, Vlado® Shoes carries on the founder’s legacy of melding diverse influences into visionary footwear. Our vast collection includes sneakers, boots, sandals, and more, featuring premium materials like Italian leather and suede. Handcrafted artistry and daring design define our brand. Read on to learn about our commitment to creativity, individuality, and bringing imaginative style to the streets.
Crafting Unique Urban Footwear
The Vlado® design philosophy draws inspiration from vintage classics, contemporary youth culture, music movements, and avant-garde fashion. Our talented team of designers finds beauty in eclecticism, merging emblems of punk, pop, hip hop, skate, and other realms.
No two pairs are alike – each Vlado® shoe exhibits its own daring character. The common thread is a flair for rebellion, self-expression, and brazen originality. Some prominent design features include:
- Vibrant colors and bold prints: Neon hues, animal patterns, graphic knits, and metallic accents add an element of playfulness and vibrancy.
- Unconventional materials: Patent leathers, waxed canvas, soft knits, and embroidered textiles provide depth and rich texture.
- Statement hardware: Pyramid studs, buckles, zippers, and grommets add an industrial edge.
- Exaggerated shapes: Distressed, deconstructed, and reconstructed silhouettes add dimension.
- Graffiti art: Hand-painted illustrations and motifs drawn from street art.
Our production team meticulously hand-assembles every pair to reflect the quality and individuality that defines Vlado®. It’s this commitment to imagination, craftsmanship, and nonconformity that makes our urban footwear truly unique.
Pushing Boundaries Through Style
The Vlado® essence is about stepping outside norms and classifications to forge your own path. Our shoes empower wearers to challenge expectations through style that provokes and inspires.
The brand has always championed fearless originality. When Vlado first introduced his unconventional designs in the early 2000s, minimalist sneakers dominated the landscape. His fresh aesthetic that blended punk, skater, hip hop, and other influences stood out as dramatically different.
Today, the Vlado® legacy continues by pushing boundaries. Our shoes aren’t confined to any single look, but rather embody the spirit of innovation, rebellion, and uninhibited creativity.
We strive to serve as a platform for bold self-expression. The people who wear Vlado® have a shared appreciation for artistry, diversity, and rejecting creative limitations. Our designs make a statement about embracing individuality and taking risks through style.
Creating With Uncompromising Quality
At Vlado®, we believe spectacular design should be matched by exceptional craftsmanship and materials. No shortcuts are taken – every pair undergoes rigorous inspection and is made to last.
We source premium leathers and fabrics from around the world. Italian leather and suede are hand-selected for unparalleled softness and durability. Custom textiles like graphic knits and waxed canvas make each shoe truly distinct.
Once constructed by our skilled artisans, the shoes are put through extreme wear testing. This ensures they withstand the demands of everyday wear while retaining their integrity. We also examine every detail down to the stitching before deeming a pair ready for the streets.
This dedication to quality is critically important to us. Vlado® customers rightfully expect their investment in imaginative style to be matched by products made to endure. Our uncompromising standards allow us to stand behind every unique shoe we produce.
Vlado: A Rebel With a Cause
Vlado Footwear’s personal story provides insight into the ethos behind the brand he built. Born in Eastern Europe, Vlado was raised without wealth or privilege. He dreamed of expressing himself through fashion, drawn to the counter-culture styles emerging on the streets.
However, resources were scarce and his home country offered little opportunity. Undeterred, Vlado pursued his passion as best he could – designing shoes from salvaged parts and selling them to earn money for proper training.
At age 20, he traveled to Italy to study footwear design in workshops and factories. Vlado soaked up centuries of Italian shoemaking heritage while honing his own unique approach.
When he launched his brand in 2001, Vlado had a clear vision: To create artful urban shoes that empowered self-expression and pushed creative boundaries. The focus was on innovation and cultivating his distinctive aesthetic, not chasing trends or profits.
Vlado built his company from scratch guided by the same resolve that took him from modest beginnings to globally-renowned designer. The brand embodies that rebellious spirit today through footwear created without compromise.
The Vlado Lifestyle: Confidence Through Original Style
The Vlado® motto is “Wear The Unexpected.” Our customers are driven by a desire to reveal their inner selves through fashion that challenges conventions. Vlado® shoes become a statement of personal freedom and fearless originality.
The wearers who resonate most with our brand have a dynamic, creative edge. They appreciate artistry, seek new experiences, and value individuality over fitting in. Their style exudes:
- Bold confidence: Unafraid to make a statement and turn heads.
- Fearless innovation: Always on the cutting edge, never following stale trends.
- Authentic self-expression: Style that breaks the mold and reveals who they really are.
- Appreciation for the unconventional: Drawn to things provocative, artistic, and idiosyncratic.
- Rejection of limits: Constantly pushing personal boundaries and thinking outside the box.
For these trailblazers in spirit, Vlado® shoes become a tool for manifesting their vision of themselves to the world. This ability to empower individuality and courageous creativity drives our mission.
The Future of Vlado®: Eccentric Style With No Limits
As Vlado® continues to evolve, the rebel heart at our core remains unchanged. Our goal is always to produce shoes that reject creative confinement and spark self-discovery.
However, the possibilities for how to interpret that vision are endless. Expect even more diversity and experimentation in our upcoming collections. We strive to push boundaries farther with:
- Inventive new silhouettes that play with proportions and constructions in unprecedented ways.
- Eye-catching materials like holographic leathers, perforated metals, and high-tech woven textiles.
- Capsule collections that dive deep into one aesthetic realm like psychedelia, disco, or avant-garde fashion.
- Collaborations with prominent artists, musicians, designers, and brands to merge our perspectives.
- Interactive experiences that bring Vlado® shoes to life through technology, presentations, and events.
While our production grows, our commitment to imaginative design and quality never wavers. Vlado® will continue nurturing artistry and empowering wearers to reveal their inner rebel.
The streets are ready. Are you?
Join the Vlado Movement
Vlado® welcomes you to immerse yourself in our one-of-a-kind world of eclectic urban style. Here’s how to connect with us:
- Shop the full Vlado® collection of sneakers, boots, and other shoes at vladoshoes.com. We ship worldwide.
- Visit Vlado® retailers in select cities to see new arrivals in person. Find a location near you.
- Follow @Vlado on Instagram and Facebook for style news, launches, collaborations, events, and more. Be the first to see upcoming collections.
- Share your style wearing Vlado® kicks on social media and tag #Vlado #VladoShoes. We love seeing our shoes empowering self-expression around the world.
Thank you for taking the journey to discover the Vlado® difference. We can’t wait to see you walk to your own beat in our rebellious shoes built for original spirits.