After a test run, the first full-fledged Aliás collection was presented in this H/W order round. The brand was launched by father Amílcar and son João Monteiro. Amílcar Monteiro was one of the founders of the Portuguese shoe manufacturer Kyaia (Asportuguesas, Softinos, Fly London), in which both were active for many years. Now you want to realize a new project with your industry experience. Your goal: design barefoot shoes that don’t look like it.
Of course and fashionable
The shoes should be characterized by naturalness, sustainability and local production. The barefoot shoes typical of the barefoot – the zero toe blast, the flexible sole and the wide toe box – are also marketed from the point of view of naturalness. The foot moves, as intended by nature, the promise. Aliás shoes are produced near Porto at the manufacturer of local sourcing in Portugal. The cork and recycled rubber are processed in the shoes for the sole, merino wool for the inner lining and burle wool or bio-suede and smooth leather for the upper material.
The goal is that the shoes are characterized by their fashion degree and not look as many currently imagine barefoot shoes, explains brand founder João Monteiro: “One of the most interesting aspects of our design is that people are often surprised when they learn that our shoes are barefoot shoes.” The sole looks optically thicker, but is actually only 3 mm high. The collection ranges from Wallabees to Booties to sneakers, the main thing, the golden rule of Monteiros – “no boredom” – is observed. That is why they experiment a lot with color. The majority of the collection is kept in natural aesthetics, but a light -starked yellow or turquoise are also represented. Aliás is said to be characterized by a thrust, but should not be too stuck in order to be able to adapt to the demand for the market. “For example, our top style is a sporty sneaker for the next autumn/winter-which surprised us,” says João Monteiro. Whether the brand moves more in a sporty direction or in an elegant casual aesthetics is left open to Aliás. The styles are deliberately unisex, but it is important to the manufacturer to offer adapted strips for women (36-42) and men (40-46).
Germany important, North America as a goal
So far, barefoot shoe specialists in Germany had struck in particular. In the long term, the manufacturer hopes that the fashionable requirement also attracts attractiveness to full range and boutiques. Nevertheless, Germany is the most important market. In addition, those responsible observe a strong development in Spain, where the topic of barefoot shoes is already well established. In the medium term, the view goes to North America, where Aliás wants to expand with the help of local partners. It is a market that takes more time. That is why it is all the more important to start early. As far as the markets and fashion are concerned, João Monteiro applies with a view to the future of the brand: “Since barefoot shoes are new to us, we are watching the trends exactly and analyzing the results of our first collections. This findings will be crucial for what an Aliás barefoot shoe will ultimately become.”
