So Bianca Saunders Went To Portugal For Shoes

For seven years now, London-based menswear designer Bianca Saunders has been a recognisable upstart in the men’s tailoring realm. You might liken Saunders to a textile-based psychiatrist wheedling positivity out of sturdy menswear codes. Her patternmaking possibly measures results from contoured conversations between her very real customer and the ‘ideal body type.’ So teaming up with the footwear tag team of Valuni and the Portuguese Association of Footwear and Leather Goods (APICCAPS) on a six-shoe capsule is a logical partnership of ethics.

Their collective next phase sees an alignment that weds Bianca Saunders’ design intentions placing personal responsibility first, with Valuni’s emphasis on craft-first tradition. ‘Valuni’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship perfectly aligns with our values. Collaborating on this inaugural footwear collection is an exciting new chapter for us as a brand,’ Saunders said. Her own fascination with the mechanics of how tailoring works, will see her trademark techniques — manipulations of industrial components like pulls, pulleys and contours that have brought an angular perspective to 2020’s menswear design — applied to shoes. Her sharp pattern cutting silhouettes, relating to a British-Caribbean intersectional sensuality, place their eyes firmly on six cutting-edge shoe designs made entirely in Portugal with Valuni.

Bianca Saunders and Valuni started their journey together in late-2023 when APICCAPS introduced one to the other. This fosters the APICCAPS mission to connect emerging British design talents with Portugese Manufacturers. ‘Building partnerships with globally renowned designers is an incredible opportunity and we are honoured to support Bianca Saunders in creating her dream footwear collection showcasing her unique talent and contemporary aesthetic,’ adds Paulo Gonçalves, Communications Director at APICCAPS. The Portugese footwear industry is a behemoth that assembles products for large fashion companies operating in both fashion capitals. Valuni represents its lynchpin with heritage, an 85-year legacy, and values that focus on quality, comfort and exclusivity.

Thanks to Valuni’s expertise, Saunders’ sketches were realised in a matter of weeks. ‘Valuni has been instrumental in bringing our vision to life. And because they do everything meticulously in house, they’re the best partner for footwear manufacturing,’ Saunders said. The collection sees its debut range of boots and trainers at Bianca Saunders S/S 25 menswear show during Paris Men’s Fashion Week.