Model and entrepreneur, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, is debuting her first footwear collection, GIA/RHW, for GIA COUTURE exclusively on FWRD.com. The collection is also the first partnership for the Italian created together to complement Huntington-Whiteley’s modern style, calling on years of experience in the industry and her renowned personal aesthetic. Founder of GIA COUTURE, Barbara Borghini, has long envisioned the brand to be a platform to collaborate with strong talented women as muses for GIA. “It was an honor to work with  Rosie. Her evolution in the industry and entrepreneurial spirit have always fascinated me” says Borghini.  “Despite everything, she is very approachable. On our first Zoom call, there was instant complicity,  lots of laughter and we immediately spoke the same language. Mutual enthusiasm and  commitment made it very easy to design the collection.” 

With a mutual passion for female empowerment and community, Huntington-Whiteley and Borghini came together to create the first launch of the collection giving each show its own clear identity. The global lockdown had a major influence on how the shoes were crafted and designed. “More than my personal style, what has changed this past year is my mindset and the designs. With Gia Couture, the collections are constantly evolving to reflect trends in fashion and the times we are living in. This is why our collaborations have always been so valuable to me as I love to get a different point of view and learn from other women and their experiences,” explained Borghini. “From the beginning, Rosie knew she wanted a very high heel in the collection so we took extra time to develop styles that were wearable and easy to walk in given how little we’ve been dressing up through the pandemic. We knew we couldn’t compromise on comfort and put our energy into finding that perfect balance. No matter the times, my philosophy will always be to dress all types of women and make sure they feel beautiful, elevated, and comfortable at the same time.”

The four exclusive styles are all handcrafted in Italy using traditional techniques and inspired by the simplicity and beauty of nature. GIA/RHW mixes modern, flattering silhouettes with natural-looking textures and materials,  such as  Radica wood, suede, and hand-braided leather. Shades of nature, in tones such as Burnt Orange, Hazelnut, Golden Brown, and Moss Green, serve as the color story and set a  perfect backdrop for the sleek designs.

The Toe Ring Mule with Woven Strap, Strappy Sandal, Flat Thong Sandal with Braided Strap and Flat Toe Ring Sandal with Wrap around ankle strap are all available on FWRD.com. The styles either in White, Light Taupe, Hazelnut Brown, Rustic Brown, Moss Green, and Black leather or Cream, Brownie, Cocoa Brown,  Burnt Orange, Brown Stone, and Black suede. Gia Couture was established in 2016 by Florentine designer Barbara Borghini who named the brand after her daughter Ginevra. With an eclectic and feminine range, it quickly becomes the “it” brand for fun, effortless yet powerful women all over the world. Gia Couture collections are entirely handcrafted by skilled artisans near  Florence in Tuscany and boast rich, playful design details. Gia Couture has previously collaborated with Pernille Teisbaek, Alex Eagle, Silvia Schersassi, Chiara Ferragni among others.

                                          

Credit: Forbes.com