Madison Maison X Joan Hornig shoes, boots and handbags embody a stylish social enterprise ... [+]
New York-based sustainable jewelry designer Joan Hornig is expanding her influence by collaborating with David Assil and his Beverly Hills boutique Madison Maison on a philanthropic shoe, boot and handbag collaboration. Designed by Assil, all pieces in Madison Maison X Joan Hornig are handmade in Italian ateliers and bejeweled with a Hornig design inspired by her Pavé The Way® social enterprise jewelry range. (Hornig’s jewels are also available through Madison Maison’s boutique and website.) This creative effort unites style with philanthropy, for 100 percent of Joan Hornig’s sales profits from each item sold in the collaboration will be donated to the 501(c)(3) of the purchaser's choice through the Joan B. Hornig Foundation. As Madison Maison’s owner and designer Assil described, “This is where luxury jewelry, bejeweled shoes and bags become vehicles for customized charitable giving.” On May 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Madison Maison is launching this collaboration at its Brighton Way boutique and online with a courtesy 15 percent discount on all merchandise. During the event, Hornig’s Pavé The Way® jewels will also be on offer inside the boutique.
The bejeweled leather boots by Madison Maison X Joan Hornig are made in Italy.
Fashion-Forward Philanthropic Footwear
Assil, who has been in business for 35 years, designs high-end, refined, fashion-forward, handmade shoes and bags made by artisanal Italian factories. According to him, “Joan’s been a customer for some time. When I found out about her philanthropic jewelry concept and saw some of her designs, I proposed a collaboration based around one of her lock pendants, and together we scaled it down to adorn loafers, high heels and boots.” (The elegant little lock is made in Italy of brass and gleams with a galvanized gold coating.) “Joan is a phenomenal creative partner because of her taste, talent, enthusiasm and philanthropic mission,” Assil enthused. Other footwear styles that Assil designed for the collaboration features tiny golden horse bits, also inspired by Hornig’s jewelry.
As Hornig explained via email, she wanted the lock on the footwear and handbags to convey such qualities as strength and preciousness, “like the women who choose to wear Pavé The Way® Jewelry. A lock represents protecting something of importance. It’s also a metaphor,” she mused, “for unlocking one’s passions, purpose and opportunities.” During the design process, she recalled, “I relied upon David’s expertise, but it was a particularly good experience because we both worked for the perfect blend of fashion, utility and price, keeping quality issues at the forefront. He involved me in every step of the way and I had fun working with him to choose the colors of the leathers selected, heel heights and the scaling of the lock motif.”
The loafers in the collaboration are co-branded Madison Maison with Mara Bini, a small, ... [+]
Hornig’s collaboration with Madison Maison is important to her for numerous reasons. “It engages people who are not necessarily shopping for jewelry,” she wrote, “while it extends the reach of Pavé The Way® and expands it into a lifestyle brand. This collaboration is a dream come true with a great partner,” she continued. “David Assil shares my aesthetic values and commitment to giving back.” While Hornig’s too discreet to say so, the beneficial aspect of this collaboration makes strategic sense. Given that shoes, boots and bags are essentials, shoppers may be able to justify these purchases perhaps a little easier than they can buying jewelry.
Timeless Design Value, Material Value
Assil, a self-taught designer, says his approach centers around four elements. Number one is that each design transcends generations, time and situations, so that it stylishly suits all ages for various occasions. “A 16-year-old girl can wear the shoes or bags, and so can a 70-year-old woman,” Assil said. “Each design also has to stand the test of time. I look at a design and ask myself, could a woman have worn these shoes or this bag 20 years ago? Can they wear them 10 years from now? Can this design be worn with dress as well as casual outfits?”
The lock on the boots is made of brass with a galvanized golden finish.
Naturally, fit and materials of major importance. “My shoes and boots must fit amazingly well and be very comfortable. This I ensure by working with excellent lasts that I’m familiar with.” Third, he detailed, “I aim for creating products of the best possible quality.” Assil works with carefully vetted, multi-generational family-owned Italian factories, master tanneries and high-end accessories ateliers. Both styles of loafers in the Madison Maison X Joan Hornig project are made in Italy by the Mara Bini factory, owned by the Pengo family. According to Assil, “Francesco Pengo is tremendously respected in the shoe world and the Penga family is wonderful. I work mostly with his daughter, Chiara.” Assil designs and co-brands Madison Maison by Mara Bini shoes. “I’m the only designer in the world who has this arrangement with Mara Bini,” he related. “I use a special leather which Mara Bini provides.”
Old World, Italian Master Artisanship
The construction process, or sachetto, involves over 200 steps to make each pair of loafers. “These shoes are made to fit like a glove and this is why they are so comfortable,” Assil said. Regarding the lock-bejeweled high heels, these are made in Italy by Factory Fratelli Russo. “This second generation, family-owned factory worked with me for 14 months to develop this heel into a perfect fitting pump.” “The tall hand-stained metallic boot is from the King Tartufoli factory, which like all of the makers Assil hand picks to work with, “are all about quality,” he said.
Cathy Williamson (left) and Janet Gunn wear the Madison Maison X Joan Hornig bejeweled lock loafers.
“Finally,” the designer concludes, “my shoes and bags are priced so that the client feels respected. As in, my customer is getting an amazing pair of bejeweled shoes without feeling like she has been pick-pocketed.” Prices range from $495 for lock-adorned high heels and $550 for lock-adorned loafers. While high boots which are bejeweled with locks are priced at $1,095, equestrian-influenced boots adorned with horse bits also go for $1,095.
The philanthropic model that Madison Maison and Hornig are using to make donations follows that of the Pavé The Way® social enterprise. “Each customer will determine the charity to receive 100% of my portion of the purchase,” Hornig expalined. “The fact that David is also incorporating jewelry designs into handbags is an added dream. His designs are exceptional and his commitment to quality and respect for the consumer's values matches my own. He has a strong sense of style that merges classicism and innovation, current fashion and lasting value.” By empowering clients to accessorize with style, enjoy being philanthropists and enable non-profits they care about to benefit, Madison Maison X Joan Hornig are writing an intriguing new chapter in the history of bejeweled footwear.
