On the couch…with Mark by Simone Brown

S: So Mark, why women’s boots?

M: I’ve always loved them ever since I was a child. I think it’s magical how a pair of shoes can totally transform how a woman feels. You can see it in her face, her posture and especially in the way she walks…it’s very sexy.

S. There are lots of boots available on the market, so what makes your boots different?
M. Well, firstly, we limit each collection to 500 pairs or less which allows us to closely monitor production in minute detail. The result is the perfect balance of style, comfort and excellent craftsmanship.

Secondly, I think the overall customer experience is what really differentiates one brand from another. For me, it’s all about making the woman feel genuinely special. Listen twice as much as you talk and you can’t go far wrong!

S. So how would you describe as the ‘Mark Charles woman’ – what is she like?
M. I think the ‘Mark Charles woman’ knows her own mind and appreciates being listened to. She is not perfect nor does she try to be. She accepts who she is and loves herself for it. She appreciates style and comfort in equal measure. She has a busy lifestyle that she juggles with relative ease. She is every modern day woman who works hard and expects the best from life.

S: Tell me about your time in Italy
M: What can I say, it’s such a beautiful place. I’ve spent a lot of time over there visiting with various producers and just getting to know people. I also spent a lot of time wondering around the hills and mountains in Tuscany, I remember a lovely little place called ‘Casamona’ where I’d go all on my own with just a pencil, a pad and a bottle of wine …and I’d be off – I’m a nomad at heart.

S: Why did you decide to make your boots in China?
M: one word….‘flexibility’, I say to James, (my shoe maker) ‘can we change this? …can we add this? …can we make this?’ and he says ‘no problem.’ I had my reservations at first but China actually produce some of the best shoes in the world which is why so many of the top fashion brands produce there, and trust me, good quality doesn’t come cheap!!!

S: Ouuuu, like who?
M: [Laugh] …it’s not my place to say – most people know this anyway!

S. How do you come up with your concepts and designs?
M. Well I’ve always been a very inquisitive person…or nosey depending on whom you ask, so I guess I’m influenced by people and things around me. I tend to think of a particular type of woman and her lifestyle and I design around that. I think about the kind of boot that she would love to wear everyday and I try to put it down on paper.

I do a lot of mental visualization as well, it helps me tune in to certain emotions. I’ll literally sit there in a daze, listening to music with my eyes closed and then a vivid image of a woman would pop up and I’d quickly scribble down the kind of boot she’d be wearing. As you would expect from such an unorthodox method, most of my designs end up being thrown away but every now and then I’ll draw something I really love  – and I hope she loves it too!

S. It sounds amazing – so what’s been the biggest influence on your work?
M: At the risk of sounding totally cliché I’d have to say ‘women.’ I have a very strong connection to all my designs because they represent different characteristics that I am attracted to. Also, beautiful shapes and contrasting designs are very interesting. The modern woman is sophisticated and poised but with a definite edge. She’s no Mary Poppins nor is she a Barbie – she’s practical and stylish and her shoes need to represent this.

S. I’ve heard you mention the phrase ‘expect more’ quiet a lot, what exactly does it mean?
M. Well, when you spend your hard earned money on a luxury item you have a right to expect more. I always expect more, I expect more chocolate and whipped cream when I pop in to my local Starbucks and I expect more salad when I go to my favorite restaurant. It’s the little things that make me feel ‘special’, so how much more should I expect when I purchase something with a bunch of zeros on the end?

S. How hard was it to get your label off the ground?
M. It’s definitely what you would call a ‘labour of love’. You don’t become a shoe designer to become rich, you do it because it makes you happy. As long as I can put food on the table I’ll be designing boots and that’s why I genuinely appreciate all the customers who support me and enable me to do what I do.

S. What is the most challenging part of your job?
M. I think it would have to be the constant battle to get things done exactly the way I want them. I’ve never really been good at compromising when it comes to the things that I’m passionate about but the reality is that successful relationships are built on ones ability to accommodate others and work together.

S: Can you elaborate a little?
M: Ok, well, when you love something, it’s important that you do it according to how you feel it should be done, sometimes people have a hard time understanding what it is that you’re trying to do...  or sometime’s they just don’t care – which is understandable I guess! Anyway my point is that I think it’s really important to protect the integrity of whatever it is that you’re trying to create whilst still being able to compromise and listen to reason. Fortunately for me, my producer is such a cool guy to work with, he gives me pretty much anything I want, as long as I’m willing to pay for it!

S: Ok, so what’s the best part of your job?
M: Oh, that’s easy, it would have to be the look on a woman’s face when she tries on a pair of my boots and loves them just as much as I do – that’s what makes it all worth while.

S: Do you see your brand developing into a fashion powerhouse like Burberry, Gucci or Prada?
M: [Laugh] You ask some interesting questions but No I don’t – I love many of these brands and I find them very inspirational but that’s not for me. I want to be more like ‘Aunt Betsey’ who lives in a tiny little cottage in the countryside and makes the best strawberry jam in the world using only the biggest and juiciest strawberries around.

It probably takes her all week to make a single batch but it tastes absolutely divine and only true strawberry jam enthusiasts seek her out. She doesn’t have to worry about big clients telling her to cut corners to increase her output or shareholders demanding that she use less strawberries in order to increase profit margins – she just makes damn good strawberry jam – if you get my drift!

S. [laugh] So what does the future hold for the Mark Charles Boot Company?

M. I want to establish the Mark Charles Boot Company as the most remarkable producer of stylish and comfortable boots for women in the world.

Beyond that I’d love to set up a foundation to help youngsters like myself from underprivileged backgrounds to better themselves. I think I’ll call it ‘The Bootstrapper Foundation’. I’d like the foundation to offer business grants and lifestyle mentorships schemes to help youngsters tap in to their true potential. There’s a lot of misguided talent out there. I grew up in the thick of it so I know.

S. So how did you manage to stay out of trouble?
M. Hum… [Smile], I was just lucky I guess!

S. What was the motivation behind your ‘Fashion Designer Guide’ ebook? …which I love by-the-way!!!
M. Thank you. The ebook kind of happened by accident. I was flicking through twitter and making a short list of inspirational people I’d like to meet up with for a chat over coffee. I was going to meet maybe one person every month and just soak up all the knowledge I could, but soon after I started the list I had well over 40 people I wanted to meet, a week later the list had grew to 150 so I thought ‘sod it, this isn’t going to work’ and I put the list down for a few days. About a week later I had the idea of interviewing all these people via email and compiling all the responses in to some sort of book - and everything just kind of followed from there.

S. Mark, thank you so much for your time, it’s been lovely talking with you and I look forward to seeing the new collection.
M. My pleasure, it’s been fun…and as for the new collection, it’s already in the pipes -  ‘expect more’ and you’ll get more!

Visit TheFashionDesignerGuide.com to get a Free copy of Marks’ ebook.