Local footwear company making big waves and big fans
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SEATTLE -- What do you give the woman who has everything?
That was the question concert organizers asked themselves in St. Paul, Minnesota, when they were searching for a thank you gift for Lady Gaga.
They found their answer in Ballard at Hourglass Footwear.
It doesn't look like the hottest shoe store in Seattle, until founders Kira Bundlie and Lisa Strom walk in. The women wanted to create a business tapping into their artistic skills.
"So we sat down and brainstormed and somebody said shoes," said Kira.
Kira and Lisa work with seven other artists, handpainting shoes in Ballard. Just seven months old and their business is already getting a lot of attention.
One hot shoe - a tribute to spicy Sriracha sauce - got a write up in Bon Appetit and New York Magazine, sparking a stiletto order from Sriracha's operations manager.
Miss Washington wore their shoes to the Miss America pageant.
But the biggest buzz has been around honeybee adorned shoes, specially crafted for Lady Gaga. The Xcell Energy Center in St. Paul asked Hourglass to make the shoes as a gift.
"Lady Gaga typically doesn't accept gifts. However her wardrobe team saw them and took them directly to her. So we're hoping!" Kira said.
Even if they don't spot their shoes on the red carpet, Hourglass is going strong for a fledgling company.
"There's a time in the beginning of any company that it's a little tight and a little scary. Just in the last few months we're starting to breath a sigh of relief," Kira said.
Their business is primarily online, but locals are welcome to drop in and try on a pair.
"People come and their jaws drop and the excitement, and people planning their outfits around our shoes," Lisa said.
And the shoes have already passed the Seattle test. They're durable - and rainproof.
"We test everything," Lisa said. "We don't sell any style of shoe or kind of paint that we haven't actually worn ourselves. We're very willing guinea pigs."
What creative designs! As a lover of shoes--and the higher the better--I think this is a very creative enterprise. I don't know about the quality of the shoes themselves, but perhaps I'm a bit pretentious in that regard, equating price with quality.
Keep up the lovely work, ladies! I hope to stop by some time :-)
Theses may not be my thing... they're not my style and I don't spend that much on shoes... but that doesn't mean I have to bash on the company because, OMG, they make shoes that have a huge heel. If you simply watched the news clip video you would see they don't make ONLY 5 inch heels. They show flats in the video too. And if you go on their website, you would see they offer 3 different heel options (the platforms you see, a stiletto, and a mid-heel) and they also have 2 styles of flat shoes.
Kuddos to them for putting themselves out there and trying something different! I hope someday they get to see Lady Gaga in those shoes on the red carpet! (And guess what, those words are coming from someone who isn't a Lady Gaga fan too!!)
See that Mom, when you punished me for inking dirt bikes and band names on my shoes, thanks for putting the end to my future in footwear design!
I'd prefer to be comfortable, woman who wear 5 inch heels look ridiculous anyways.Â
Do they carry size 13's? I'd totally buy a pair if they do! :)
I used to work in show production and design. I am confused as to whether they are actually producing the shoes or just painting them. They are very cool but it sounds to me that they are just crafters with good business sense.
Wow, there are a lot of haters commenting here today. While I can't wear shoes like these anymore, I think they look absolutely fabulous. Let's look at the positive, shall we? This is a local business, and these people are using their artistic skills to do something they enjoy, and I applaud them. Keep up the great work!Â
@Shelley I don't "hate" anyone but I think these shoes are utterly ridiculous and they make women look ridiculous.
Yawn. Â Do these shoes come with a free appointment with a podiatrist? Joke is on the vain women and girls who now routinely wear 5"+ heels. Â They will be hobbled with foot and back problems in their late 30s. Used to be that shoes like that were in the Fredericks of Hollywood catalog. Â They're not suitable for real life, and women walk like cows in them. Â You think you don't, but you do. Have someone secretly film you "walking" in them. lol. Â I see girls at the local high school wearing shoes like that to school, as they sell them in catalogs like Alloy and Delia's. Â Have no idea what their parents are thinking.. or if they just get a thrill that their daughters look like something from Jersey Shore.
I'm not one of those women that is obsessed with shoes or handbags. I'm not infected with consumerism, to the point where I'd pay $695.00 for a  purse made in China.  or for shoes that I couldn't walk in.  Sorry.. how can a woman run a business or a Country, if she can't even run for the elevator! Stop being window=dressing in your life, and show up.Â
@DT For once, you say something I agree with. They might look cute just standing there, but...
@DTÂ You sound a little bitter and out of touch... I for one find women in heals very appealing, assuming they can walk in them which I have known many that do more than ok with no rolled or sprained ankles. Who needs to run for an elevator when its going to get held for you when they see you coming...
@Chs @DT DT sounds pretty sensible to me. I DON'T like high-heel shoes and I don't for one second understand why women wear such punishing footwear.
These shoes can be dangerous. A lot of young women have never fallen off these types of shoes and tore a tendon. Some of these cheap knock offs do not offer the minimum of support needed to prevent this type of accident. My roommate worked in the ER and he saw women fall off these shoes and badly sprain or tear a ligament every day. It's the worst kind pain imaginable.
@joefuss "A lot of young women have never fallen off these types of shoes and tore a tendon."
The video of the two women walking shows the one on the left seeming to stumble, so yeah these shoes don't look all that practical.
On the other hand, they are beautiful work. Good to see some artists actually making their craft work.
whoopty Flippin Doopty! women and there dumb stupid non practical shoes. who cares?
uhhh, I'm so sick of women and their shoe fetish, it's disgusting.
today, i want to listen to your opinions.