In a world where gulab jamun tarts and saree gowns are the current flavour, an enthusiasm for newness and the unexplored designer jutti landscape propelled Delhi-based Laksheeta Govil to launch her own shoe label, Fizzy Goblet.
Fashion had always piqued the interest of this young designer and led her to study it. But giving a makeover to an Indian shoe style was serendipitous.
Previous experiences with couture houses like Lecoanet Hemant and graphic designing with Puma gave her an insight into the world of shoes. This led her to think of the creative gap in the contemporary jutti market. “Designing and creating has always been a part of my DNA. I had initially started with a personal project of hand-painting canvas shoes. Later, I felt that there is so much that the Indian jutti has to offer with its beautiful history. The idea was to consciously marry the old world, traditional charm of the footwear with the chaos and pop culture that’s relevant to the current generation. We wanted to make available a fun, designer pair of shoes which was an instant pick-me-up and also pocket-friendly,” says Laksheeta.
The biggest challenge for her was to alter the mindsets of people who think traditional juttis are very hard with an uncomfortable sole. Special care was taken for it and the base of all Fizzy Goblet juttis is made of pure leather, which is treated and cushioned to eliminate discomfort.
Laksheeta believes that the brand name perfectly captures the essence of the brand — a bubbling, vivacious, fun goblet of sparkling spontaneity. To give the juttis a new soul, they are covered with patent prints, embellishments, intricate patterns and graphics. She lets her imagination run wild, with prints ranging from her take on the ideal “Lazy Sunday”, to a collection with doodles of teacups, kites and bow ties. She takes inspiration from everyday objects and adventures and each shoe has its own story.
Her instincts as a designer are to never stick with the old and comfortable, but to always experiment. “Fashion, to me, is nothing but art which can be on any medium. I use my shoes as my mirror and reflect my everyday experiences, fleeting thoughts and many emotions, with the hope that others like and relate to what they see.”
The juttis can add a touch of joy to both Indian and western wear easily. They are a great alternative for women who’d like to leave their heels but retain femininity, glamour and comfort. Laksheeta adds, “We have prints which would call out to a large ranging group, with no limit on the age bar. What we love about the shoes is that they can be worn from day to night, and fit in pretty much everywhere from parties to sangeets .”
The quirky juttis are available on their online portal and are retailed in stores across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.
With a recent wedding collection launched and some interesting accessories and collaborations in the pipeline, Laksheeta seems to be taking one happy step at a time.
