Most well known shoe designers hail from Europe, but South Korea has its own shoe-making superstar in designer Jinny Kim. Studying design in Seoul, and then rooting herself in the fashion world as an assistant editor at Vogue Korea, Jinny Kim moved to New York to pursue her American dreams at FIT.

After various stints in the fashion industry, Jinny Kim decided to move back to her hometown to learn the craft of handmade shoes from the many skilled artisans and factories there, a little known fact. The combination of education that she learned from them alongside her passion to create fabulous, wearable shoes for women at affordable prices landed her with her first namesake collection which launched in 2006. For her, reasonably priced footwear didn’t resonate with a cheap look, but rather she has worked to create shoes that are not only unique, but also sophisticated in their design. Jinny Kim saw a hole in the footwear industry, and conquered it with shoes that were both stunning to the eye and comfortable for the wearer.

Jinny Kim finds her inspiration from the stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Each shoe is handcrafted with a spin of a modern vintage feel. She uses bold colors like emerald green and royal purple, refined architecture and intricate detailing making shoes that are a fresh addition to the footwear industry. In 3 short years, Jinny Kim has gained popularity and amazing reviews from media and consumers alike in Asia. However, her brand is quickly gaining popularity stateside, with her shoes being stocked in shoe haven Diavolina and Revolve Clothing, to name a few. Jinny Kim’s shoe collection Jinny Kim Hollywood, is the perfect marriage between her hometown roots of South Korea in their craftsmanship and her love of Old Hollywood with the glamour and vintage decadence that it represents.

Images courtesy of Jinny Kim. For more information, visit Jinny Kim Hollywood.