KOIO x SAMUEL ANTHONY
Our blog and social media networks have had such an incredible impact on my life, leading me to numerous opportunities that once seemed completely out of reach. Growing up I always wanted to be a fashion designer, but I never pursued it because I thought there were too many obstacles in my way. It was...Too hard...Too challenging...Impossible. The biggest lesson here that I can share is, don't create boundaries that keep you from pursuing your dreams. It's with extreme gratitude and pride that I launched my first shoe design, in collaboration with KOIO at W Scottsdale. Please check out the video below, which we produced to promote the release.
The design process was exciting, especially being a fan of KOIO prior to the collaboration. Shoes have always been one of my favorite aspects of styling, and I typically opt for simple monochromatic outfits with bold shoes and accessories. This was no different. Black pebble-grain calf leather adds a luxurious note that is offset with metal spikes to add an unexpected edge to the shoe's clean lines. We painted the spikes black to match the leather and placed them in rows, covering the toe cap and again in a short ascending row running up the heel of the shoe. The design was completed with an off-white sole creating a sharp contrast with the leather. As with all KOIO shoes, these are made by hand in Italy. Shop my design and explore the rest of KOIO's collection by clicking here.
With a design inspired by the contrast of the harsh desert against modern architecture, we chose to break from tradition and had the launch here in Arizona. W Scottsdale's Mega Suite provided the ideal location with a seamless transition from the desert to modern luxury. The property's service and decor created the perfect ambience for our event. A glass wall runs along the living room area of the suite, which opens up beautifully to the property's largest balcony overlooking the WET Deck (pool area) below and mountains in the distance.
It was a warm evening, so chilled glasses of Prosecco and champagne were passed to guests along with ice cold bottles of refreshing Aqua Carpatica (sparkling and flat). However, hosting an event from 6-8pm, when everyone is fresh out of work requires substantial, quality food. Sauce Pizza & Wine to the rescue! We served a delicious variety of their made-from-scratch foods: caprese skewers, meatballs, quartered paninis and cookies!
We want to thank everyone who came out to support our launch. It was incredible having so many local influencers and creatives in the same place, generating a fabulously positive vibe! We hope you had as much fun as we did and are already planning our next event. More to come soon, but in the mean time checkout the gallery below for a few shots of our guests. Our photographer Ashley Dyan killed it! Thank you Ash ❤️
