Rock & Rebel

Before he graces the official opening of his new Singapore store, Giuseppe Zanotti discusses shoes, music and ice cream with jacquie ang

- Jacquie Ang

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI’S HANDS are dirty. It was hard to ascertain at first, with the distracting flurry of hellos and how-do-you-dos. But it became evident when Silvia Pavan, his global marketing and communication director, fished out a leather pouch that unrolled to reveal pens in a whole spectrum of colours.

The Italian luxury footwear designer has a tendency to sketch as he speaks to illustrate his ideas, which offers a glimpse into his design process (“I draw with the pencil in the car...”). Less than two minutes into our chat, he asks for paper and a pencil, eager to show a new heel for his upcoming Spring/Summer 2018 offerings. “The collection reflects the Nineties — it’s positive and colourful. I did these sandals, where the heel is a cross between the ‘G’ in my signature ‘Giuseppe’, and a lightning bolt,” he explains, while the minimalist strappy sandals, which will arrive in striking colours such as red and green, is swiftly translated onto paper.