Cover Story
Carnal contrast: In conversation with Paris Texas’ Annamaria
Cult-status shoes swathed in technicolour, designed for the everywoman.
4 Minute Read
For Annamaria Brivo of cult Italian shoe brand Paris Texas, a love of colour is something deeply connected to her womanhood and sense of self. The label’s bold metallic, printed, textured and intrepid styles have quickly reached cult status since debuting in 2015. They’ve adorned the long legs of Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, taking the romance of Paris and the edge of Texas worldwide. It’s a rollicking rainbow affair, and it’s now at Harrolds.
But these creations don’t discriminate. Annamaria designs for all women, regardless of age, size, ethnicity, or other modes of capricious distinction. She harnesses the power of colour and juxtaposition to ignite something within, rather than simply transfix onlookers or grace Instagram. These styles are equal parts wild and grounding in their aesthetic and ethos, reminding wearers of the mighty two feet they stand on in this life.
Annamaria sees vividly in colour and commotion, absorbing natural cues around her and translating them into arresting and bold shoes that bring confidence to the fore. Today, Harrolds chats exclusively to the heiness behind these haute heels, unzipping what it means to embrace femininity and fashion, feet first. Step inside.
The Paris Texas woman is every woman. She is confident and not afraid to wear whatever she wants.
Where does your intrinsic desire for contrast and colour come from?
Paris Texas’ aesthetic lies in the power of contrast – bold patterns and colours designed in classic and comfortable shapes. Paris is elegant, sophisticated and nonchalant, Texas is edgier and rougher. I love the juxtaposition, but also how they manage to coexist and harmonise.
During bouts of creative angst or a designer’s rut, where what and who do you turn to for inspiration?
When I start thinking about a new collection I turn to colours around me. In lockdown earlier this year, for example, I was surrounded by nature and I ended up incorporating forest green into our FW20 collection as a result.
Why does materiality matter? How do you strive to source materials sustainably for your shoes?
We produce everything in Italy, which is so important to me. We work very closely with our manufacturers and I really like to support Italians and the local community as much as possible through Paris Texas.
What has changed the most between 2015 and 2020 in Paris Texas’ offerings, ethos and attitudes?
Our ethos has remained the same as we have grown, we are a brand based on contrasts and we still offer comfortable, signature styles in bold colours and prints. We have had to adapt and try and keep up with our demand and we have also had to evolve the collection so that even though we are known more for one style at the moment (our boot), our customers can start to come to us for other styles too.
Annamaria Brivio, Founder and Creative Director
Annamaria Brivio, Founder and Creative Director
How important is Paris Texas’ Italian heritage? And in what ways does this define the brand?
It’s everything. We are an Italian brand, we produce in Italy, and our team is Italian. That being said, I’m very inspired by all the places I travel to. I love seeing women worldwide wear Paris Texas and see how they style it differently from country to country. in Italy, we wear our heeled boots to work and then go straight to aperitivo. Then, in LA, women wear boots in summer and mix them with denim. Over in England, women can be dressed very femininely one day and then be super edgy or very casual the next.
Paris Texas is all about embracing ‘effortless beauty’. How do you do this in your everyday life? What makes you feel truly beautiful?
When I choose to wear a basic T-shirt, a pair of jeans and a brand new pair of slouchy boots from Paris Texas, I feel extremely confident yet comfortable in my own shoes. This is the key to truly feeling beautiful.
Can you talk us through the transformative power of stepping into a bright, bold pair of Paris Texas shoes?
There are those days where everything seems dull and dark, but I believe that grabbing and stepping into an eye-catching pair of Paris Texas can help women feel stronger, sexier, more confident and powerful altogether. In the end, it’s all about balancing the very aspect of life with ease and style.
In your words, who is the ‘Paris Texas’ woman? What does she stand for? What makes her heart shimmy?
The Paris Texas woman is every woman. She is confident and not afraid to wear whatever she wants. She’s effortless and very natural.
