Step Into StyleThe Art of Lily & you Footwear by Azucena Ordonez

Lily & you, created to blend luxury, comfort, and sustainability in every pair. With a background in high-end fashion, she crafts personalized shoes that empower women and enhance their style. Inspired by art and architecture, each design features sophisticated details like delicate embroidery and signature metallic buckles. Committed to timeless elegance and eco-consciousness, Lily&you offers footwear that’s as beautiful as it is functional.

What inspired you to become a shoe designer and how did you get started in the industry?

Since I was a child, I've always been fascinated by design and fashion. I loved watching my mother and the women around me dress, and I loved thinking about how a pair of shoes could completely transform an outfit. As a little girl, I was obsessed with textures and colors of both clothing and footwear. I enjoyed mixing different combinations, playing with everything I had around me.

After working for many years at fashion firms and feeling ready to create my own brand, I decided to start Lily & you. I was very clear that I wanted to enter the world of footwear while maintaining my passion for exclusive, personalized design. The idea of creating something that wasn’t just functional but also a work of art is what truly inspired me.Designing shoes is fascinating because, unlike clothing, shoes have a direct impact on how a person walks, feels, and expresses themselves. For me, footwear is a functional art form; it combines aesthetics, comfort, and technology in a single piece. Additionally, shoes are one of the few items that can make someone feel more confident and elegant just by putting them on. Footwear has an immediate connection with a person’s identity. A pair of shoes can say a lot about the person wearing them, and this ability to influence how people feel and present themselves to the world captivated me.That’s how I decided to turn my passion into a career: designing shoes that are not only visually striking but that would define each of my clients, while also being comfortable and functional.

Who or what are your biggest influences, both inside and outside the fashion industry?

Within the fashion world, I’d say one of my greatest influences is Manolo Blahnik, whom I admire and respect deeply. His ability to blend art, luxury, and functionality in his shoe designs has been a huge inspiration. I’m drawn to how his shoes are not just beautiful, but also tell a story, with a perfect balance between tradition and modernity.On the other hand, Christian Louboutin’s revolutionary vision of luxury footwear, especially his iconic red sole, has marked a turning point in the industry. His ability to play with shapes, colors, and materials has influenced my desire to explore new textures and lines.

Outside of fashion, architecture, art, and my own personal experiences are also big influences.

Shoe design, much like architecture, is a discipline that involves both aesthetics and functionality, and I love how architects think innovatively about lines, curves, and geometry. Artists, on the other hand, with their works full of colors, patterns, and surprising forms, inspire me to experiment with visual elements in shoe design. I believe that art is a powerful way to convey emotions and concepts, something I try to incorporate into my own designs.Personal experiences play a fundamental role in the creation process. For example, moments of happiness, challenge, or even nostalgia can inspire the color, texture, or shape of a shoe.

How would you describe the identity and aesthetic of your brand?

The essence of Lily & you is about offering footwear that combines elegance, comfort, and femininity, designed for modern women who want to stand out with style without sacrificing comfort. The brand reflects a focus on authenticity and confidence, with sophisticated designs that accompany women in their everyday lives, whether for a special occasion or daily routines. Additionally, Lily & you is deeply committed to quality and sustainability, using carefully selected materials to create products that not only look good but are also made to last and respect the environment.

The essence of the brand is to empower women, providing them with footwear that makes them feel comfortable, confident, and radiant with every step they take.In summary, Lily & you is a brand that celebrates the authentic and self-assured woman, offering products that unite design, sophistication, functionality, and environmental responsibility.

Can you guide us through your creative process when designing a new shoe collection?

In the creative process of designing a new collection, I always like to follow a methodology.The first thing I do is research the latest fashion trends, but most importantly, I like to consider the needs and preferences of the women who have already visited my Atelier— they are always my biggest inspiration.Once I’ve gathered the information, I define the central concept of the collection, which may be based on a particular inspiration, such as a place, era, feeling, or story. This inspiration becomes the core that guides the design of all the models, always aiming for a final result that is both aesthetically and functionally coherent.After defining the essence of the collection, comes the most exciting part for me: starting to work on the initial sketches, exploring different shapes, silhouettes, and details.Once the sketches are defined, I move on to the material selection. I always seek the highest quality and like to experiment with different and innovative materials to offer my clients unique designs.For each design, a prototype is created to see how the shoe looks and feels, while testing the fit, comfort, and aesthetics. Seeing how the shoe adapts to the foot, ensuring the design is correct, and seeing the final aesthetic result is crucial for me.After final testing and adjustments, production is green-lit. At this stage, our factory and skilled artisans ensure that the manufacturing meets established quality standards. This phase is key to ensuring that each pair of shoes, in addition to being beautiful, is durable and functional.

The creative process at Lily & you is a journey from research to the final product, including inspiration searching, design, testing, and production. Each collection is an opportunity to create shoes that not only follow trends but also offer comfort, style, and sustainability, helping women feel confident and empowered every step of the way.

How do you stay ahead of fashion trends while maintaining your unique style?

Although I stay updated with trends, I never lose sight of the brand identity of Lily & you. Its essence of feminine elegance, comfort, and unique style remains the core of every collection. I reinterpret trends within this framework, which allows the brand to stay recognizable and authentic.

I believe the key to all of this is that I maintain direct contact with my clients and listen to each one of them. This allows me to identify what the women who wear the brand really want and need, and how their tastes and preferences are evolving.This feedback translates into products that not only follow trends but also meet the expectations of my clients.

I like to say that I create pieces with elegant and sophisticated details that, although influenced by current trends, can be worn over time without losing their appeal.

What role does sustainability play in your design process?

Sustainability plays a fundamental role in the creative process at Lily & you, serving as the key element that guides both the design and manufacturing of its collections. The brand is committed to offering high-quality products that respect the environment while maintaining style and functionality.

From the selection of responsible materials to ethical production and design for durability, every step in the creative process is taken with the goal of creating products that are not only stylish and comfortable but also environmentally friendly and socially responsible. This allows the brand to offer high-quality footwear that consumers can wear with confidence, knowing they’re contributing to a more sustainable future.

Additionally, all production is done in an artisanal manner in Spain, so I can oversee the entire manufacturing process from start to finish.

Tell us about your latest shoe collection and the inspiration behind it.

In the latest collection, I sought a minimalist yet elegant design that highlights the natural beauty of the materials. Clean lines, soft shapes, and subtle details create a timeless and sophisticated style. The shoes in this collection are designed to be versatile, comfortable, and easy to mix and match, allowing every woman to express her personal style effortlessly.

Is there a signature element present in every shoe collection?

Yes, Lily & you has several signature elements that are present in every collection I design, helping to define its unique style.

One of the most notable is the use of artisanal and sophisticated details, which add a distinctive and elegant touch. These handcrafted details include delicate embroidery, organza bows, or metallic accessories.The most significant metallic details are our sparkling buckles, recurring elements in the collections. These details add a touch of distinction and elegance without being ostentatious, maintaining a balance between modern and understated design.

Another constant in Lily & you collections is its neutral color palette, which includes tones like beige, soft grey, acid brown, gold, silver, and white.

What is the protocol you follow in your atelier/studio with clients?

At Lily & you, the customization process is designed to offer a unique and exclusive experience for each client, where attention to detail and creativity play an essential role.The protocol follows a carefully structured series of steps to ensure that each pair of shoes is truly one-of-a-kind and fits perfectly with the client’s needs and desires.

The first thing I do is dedicate time to getting to know the client's preferences and needs to understand what type of footwear they’re looking for, whether it’s for a special event or for daily use. The rapport with each client is very important, and I listen closely to create their dream shoe.

Next, we choose the heel height and shape together. We try on different lasts until we find the perfect angle for her foot. This step is crucial to me because it's key to comfort.The next step is choosing the design and silhouette of the shoe. In this action, I take my client’s style into account but never forget the importance of functionality and comfort.

Finally, comes the most creative part for me: designing the shoe using our wide range of materials, selecting piece by piece the combination of colors and textures that best define the client's personality.