Destiny Calls: From Fancy Footwork to Fantastic Footwear

February 13, 2017

Shradhaa — Tanishaa Mukerji with Shradha Hedau

The most blessed of us are those who have succeeded in finding their calling. Shradha Hedau is one such person who’s not only pursued her passion with dance, but had the courage to follow her heart in shoe design.

This gutsy Puneite founded her own label of deeply fabulous footwear and is taking the nation by storm. A fascinating chat with her offers us a sneak peek into her transition from dance to design…

How did you switch paths from being a Danseuse to Designing footwear?

Dancing was my first love and I’m passionate about it to this day. Yet back in 2012, I happened to take a hiatus from my stint as a dancer; That was when I gave a serious thought to my love for shoes. It’s crazy how it happened and I remember it quite clearly. I had a brainwave over dinner and inexplicably inspiration had struck.

So how did your shoe journey begin?

Well, I soon planned it all out and enrolled at The London College of Fashion to learn the nitty-gritty’s of designing fabulous footwear. Upon my return, the desire to focus on fundamental shoe-design truly had me dreaming of manufacturing in-house. This was when I founded Shradha Hedau Footwear Couture.

How did your family react to the change?

Oh, they were tremendously supportive. Launching a new-fangled idea like Custom footwear wouldn’t even be conceivable without their unstinted support.

Why Custom Footwear?

I want to change the perception that ‘Fashion is Pain’ when it comes to footwear. I really like the idea of shoes for the busy women’s lifestyle. SHFC pumps are unbelievably comfortable.

What is your favourite category of footwear to design?

Undoubtedly dancing shoes! As a danseuse, I’m in tune to a need for great cushioning, moisture absorption and more. Also, fabrics alone don’t mean very much, it’s always a question of how the fabric is applied. There’s always another dimension which is crucial to how it looks. For instance, if we are talking RED in my workshop, I need to know if it is RED leather, RED patent, RED satin, RED metal – matte metal or shiny metal, and so on – RED alone doesn’t tell me anything. The beauty lies in the fabric and not just the colour! Our team insists on outstanding ‘Karigiri’ that certainly delights dancers.

Where do you derive your inspiration from?

I’m constantly looking for inspiration from the art world. I also keep researching new fabrics and techniques while finalising my collection each season. I have a large collection of weird shoes.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style mirrors that of my collections. It’s Bold, Eclectic and Feminine.

What does success look like for you?

Honestly, 2016 has been quite special for me. We were ranked The No. 1 Brand by The Times Retail Icon 2016 for Couture Footwear. Our designs were also sported by models walking the runway for Lakmé fashion week. It’s all been very humbling and I guess gaining worldwide repute would mean true success to me.