While Louboutins have their signature red-lacquered bottoms, Andre Coton has their signature cognac spine.
May 17th marked the first anniversary of André Coton and the newly year-old shoe designers, Linda Ottosson and Jose André. They’ve mapped their way from London over to the greatest city on earth with their luxurious line of slip-on sneakers and flats. It’s no secret that living in New York City means that inevitably, our feet have their work cut out for them all day, every day. André Coton footwear aims to help the industrious man and woman tackle their 9-5, in style.
The line offers the perfect recipe for preppy with a side of classy, making André Coton the perfect contenders for office wear. Though, not only do they excel in aesthetics, they’ve mastered the art of comfort. No longer making stylistic sacrifices in the name of comfort, their slip-on sneakers are imperative for those tackling the concrete jungle on a daily basis. While most other slip-on sneakers of similar appearance tend to leave blisters or an all too typical discomfort, André Coton footwear work with your feet and bend with the natural contours of an ever flexing foot in motion.
Now, by first glance, the platforms of the sneakers look thick. But don’t let the illusive density fool you. Its design is created so your foot sits within the platform; not walking on an inch of fabric. The slip-on sneakers, referred to as the ‘SOTO-collection’, come in a few colors, from solid black, (Black Bandit) to a golden metallic (Killer.) And their slippers, the ‘Veneto collection’ come in solid colors, or, playful designs and tassles, have a look!
Photo: Courtesy of Andrecoton.com SOTO-Collection:Killer
Photo: Courtesy of Andrecoton.com Veneto Collection: Ziba
Of course, while the comfort, design, and price point are all enticing, Andre Coton’s most appealing attribute is their dedicated involvement with their customers. The founders are extremely hands on and reply to your inquiries directly; assuring you that you’ll get the most valuable and honest responses. When asked if that genuine practice would stop with the brand’s growth, Linda assured me it wouldn’t.
The hands-on approach stems from the inspiration behind the name. André Coton, Jose’s grandfather, was a Haitian cotton merchant in Port-au-Prince. The hard work and perseverance he exerted was enough to influence the contemporary designers that their interactions with their customers needed to be interpersonal and that direct communication is key. “We recognize the labor that goes into everything from the very beginning, from the point where we start sketching the shoes, to when and where they’re produced,” Linda stated. No one knows a brand better than its creators, and Linda and Jose aim to continue to let their values be the forerunners of the business.
When gauged if they’d expand any further beyond slippers and sneakers, and venture into more fall centric footwear, such as boots, co-founder Linda responded with “It’s very possible.” Having mastered style without compromising comfort, this is certainly something we’re looking forward to.
Putting the shoes to the ultimate test, I’ve worn my ‘Black Bandits’ for 3 weeks, back and forth from the office to college campus and the results are conclusive: They’ve got the downtown seal of approval. Their minimalistic design received many compliments and my feet were truly ready to take on the lifestyle of a commuter.
