Right Bank Shoe Co. is moving across borders and fortifying wanderlust with its comfortable, luxurious and handcrafted footwear for consumers worldwide.
As the brainchild of iconic footwear designer Donald J. Pliner—also known as Mr. Right Bank—Right Bank Shoe Co. launched last year and aims to bring together global inspiration and authentic production to create the ultimate shoes for consumers.
Culling inspiration from artifacts, masks and textiles from global destinations, Right Bank Shoe Co. footwear is handmade by Italian and Spanish shoemakers who use the finest tanneries and materials to meet consumers’ various footwear needs.
The brand, which offers a myriad shoe styles for men and women, including boots, mules, sandals and slides, is known for its signature details, including beadwork, crystals and skulls that provide an extra edge to consumers’ wardrobes as a whole—and not just from the knee down.
“You have to have patience. What I learned in anatomy is that sometimes shoes are built from the shoes to the ankle,” Pliner said. “When everyone designs, they have to look at it as a portrait.”
Pliner, who practices this idea with his own designs, decided to collaborate with other influencers to shake up Right Bank Shoe Co.’s footwear offering. A year after Right Bank Shoe Co. made its debut, Pliner co-launched a men’s footwear collection with Emmy and Grammy winning actor Blair Underwood.
Dubbed “Right Bank Shoe Co. for Blair Underwood,” the collection was introduced in January. The brand presented the collection again last week during FFANY.
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Underwood, who was interested in furthering his fashion business ventures, collaborated with Pliner because they shared a mutual love for traveling, human experiences and craftsmanship. Together, they wanted to create a robust footwear lineup for consumers that valued comfort, fashion and an artisan touch in their product purchases.
“As our feet are the foundation of our ability to stand upright and take on the world, the shoes we choose to place on our feet are the foundation of our innate expression of individual fashion. It is this sentiment that has driven me to find a way to create a shoe brand. As an artist myself, I was looking to be in business with a relentless artist and craftsman,” said Underwood. “I’m happy to say, I’ve found that in Mr. Right Bank.”
Travel, human experience and craftsmanship are evident with the collection—including smoking slippers and combat boots featuring animal patterns, outdoor landscape prints and intimate elements, including Underwood’s family crest. The collection, which has a wholesale price range from $116 to $334, will be sold at U.S. luxury retailers nationwide.
“The line is classy, casual, confident, elegant and cool. Comfortable shoes make a difference in how you feel about yourself. If you are feeling comfy, you are going to have a better day,” Underwood added. “Our designs are memorable and make a statement.”