MY MARY JANE FINALLY ARRIVED
“Take your time and do it right—because doing things well matters more than just doing them.”
– Antonio Machado –
My Mary Jane has finally arrived. The photo illustrating this post was taken in Rome in early September 2018. The exact location—as iconic as they come—was chosen specifically with great care, in a blend of intention and chance… A place that evokes universality, passion, history, pride, charm… A place that brings to mind the essence of Italy. And for that reason, perhaps my favorite among all the treasures the Eternal City has to offer. Some of you may have already recognized it… I’m referring to the Spanish Steps.
I remember arriving very early that day. Dawn was just breaking, and the Spanish Steps were practically deserted. It struck me as odd at first, because I’d always found them crowded with people… Aware of the opportunity fate had given me, I decided to seize the moment. I sat on one of the steps and simply savored those moments as I have few other things in life. Sitting there, just as so many people had before me, and as many others will do… But in complete tranquility. With that magical place all to myself, I savored every second of those moments that you know are unique and will remain alive in your memory forever.
After a while, small groups of people began to arrive, and I realized the value of those moments of introspection I’d spent in that unique place. I decided then that those steps would be the setting for the first photographs of the shoe into which I’ve poured the most enthusiasm, passion, and hard work since I founded Bohemian. The shoe that holds the most of myself. And it was also then that I decided to name it after the person who has helped make that magical setting known to the world like few others have… I would call my ballet flat “Audrey.”
AudrAudrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Rome, 1953
The result of that special moment is the photo featured at the top of this Journal post, along with a few others you can find on Bohemian Shoes' Instagram feed.
And from the magic of that idyllic trip to Rome, and those few minutes spent sitting there, I sprang into action the moment I set foot in Madrid. When it comes to the process of designing, manufacturing, and launching AUDREY, nothing sums it up more accurately than the quote by Antonio Machado that I’ve chosen to accompany this post:
“Take your time and do it right—because doing things well matters more than just doing them.”
And that’s exactly how it is… It’s been patience and affection that have guided me throughout the entire process. Although AUDREY has only just appeared, she’s actually the first dancer we started thinking about back then. And we did so even before OLIVIA, the first one we made, which has been on the market since we launched the website in late September 2018. We liked this strappy ballet flat so much that we chose an image of its prototype to be among the first ones we included in the website launch. It didn’t matter that we weren’t making it at the time, because we knew that sooner or later we would… This ballet flat was, for me, like those loves you feel will one day come true, and you wait for them without rushing, without searching for them… because you know that one day they’ll arrive… because they’re meant to be.
And that day has finally arrived. We’ve been waiting for this creation for many months, letting it simmer slowly, shaping it with care, time, and dedication. And now it’s time to enjoy it… For me, by offering it to you and watching you slip it on. For you, by showing it off.
Let this metaphor serve to sum up what AUDREY conveys to us, and what led us to her. A dancer who has stolen our hearts. We knew she would, but the result has exceeded our expectations. We’ve developed a last that flatters the silhouette like few shoes of its kind do, and we’ve given it a 2-centimeter heel that eliminates the discomfort of walking in flats.
Their colors, which you can wear at different times of the year, capture the essence of Bohemian style and make them a joy to look at. Red, silver, Oxford blue, bougainvillea, nude pink, sky blue… You’ll never go unnoticed when you wear them.
The interior is made of leather, as is the hallmark of Bohemian Shoes…A non-negotiable feature for us from the very beginning. This translates to extra comfort and the ability to wear them almost any time of year without your feet suffering excessively from the heat or cold.
That’s right, AUDREY. My Mary Janes have finally arrived. The time, patience, dedication, and care I put into them were all worth it, because you’re loving them. I feel like I’m floating in them, like I’m wearing a pair of ballet flats unlike any other… Because no matter where they start, all eyes end up on them… Are you joining the trend?
Eva Veiga – Bohemian Shoes
