A step above

A dearth of quality footwear options in the city has led to the popularity of private and public exhibitions.

KARACHI: Shoe designer Zahra Habib held a private sale of shoes this week which sold out fairly quickly, proving that there is a dearth of quality footwear options in the city that has in turn led to the popularity of private and public exhibitions.

Nadiya Kassam’s shoe sales attract frenzied shoe shoppers who buy up to six pairs at a time, and Nadia Hussain’s recent shoe exhibition in Karachi saw a flow of customers who made the trek to see what the supermodel had designed.

Habib has been stocking at Ensemble for the past six months and the store’s Zeba Husain says that it is a profitable venture.

“The shoes by Zahra Habib are doing very well. The sales are making profit. It’s a very good effort and we are happy to have her on board with us,” Husain told The Express Tribune.

The sale featured flats in embellished and plain varieties.

At the sale, Habib spoke to The Express Tribune about her collection.

Why did you decide to launch a shoe collection?

I launched a shoe collection a couple of years ago. It was my dream to wear my shoes that I had designed. When I came back from Leeds, I thought I could do something about this. So initially it was a passion that turned into a hobby and ultimately into a career.

Do you think you are bringing something different to the market?

I try to be different. I use pure leather and the shoes have brooches of flowers or animals in crystals or gems that I have purchased from abroad. My all-time favourite colour is silver because this goes with every outfit. But I have done shoes in red, bright orange, black and beige too.

What is the target market for Zahra Habib Footwear?

Just about everyone. For those girls who are in their late teens who may want different brooches on their flats ... I have shoes with brooches of animals, flowers and even a skull. Older women are attracted to plain flats. So I am catering to all sorts of women.

What is the price range?

My clients are women belonging to the upper class and the price range is between Rs1,500 and Rs9,500.

Do you have any plans to expand?

I have been stocking at Ensemble for the past six months. I have a shoe shop in Islamabad by the same name and I am planning to go international ... things are in the pipeline.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2010.