founders Susanna and Pierre-Julien discuss FoncEne's inspiration
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What inspired the Isobel and how does it relate to the world of dance?
We aimed to design a shoe that lasts—both aesthetically and functionally. Drawing from the nostalgia, elegance and femininity of dance, we created a tap-inspired Mary Jane to capture a visceral, timeless beauty.
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Why are Isobels free from animal products?
I'm deeply committed to leading a cruelty-free lifestyle, and it's important to me that Foncėne reflects this ethos. This isn't the Isobel's main selling point however. Isobels are meticulously crafted from premium materials, including a dense velvet upper and solid beechwood heels. These materials aren't substitutes for animal products; they boast their own standalone inherent beauty. While Isobels happen to be vegan, their true essence lies in artisanal craftsmanship and timeless elegance.
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Why was the decision made to create only one shoe model?
We follow a philosophy of conscious minimalism. We want every 'thing' we bring into our lives to carry enduring meaning and purpose. Isobels are crafted to withstand time and fulfill diverse roles across different occasions, thereby reducing the necessity for multiple pairs of shoes. While we may introduce additional models in the future, we will remain committed to offering only one model per role.
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What is the meaning or origin of the name Foncėne?
The name Foncėne comes from a rural village in south-west France, where PJ and I were married. Here, time has had little influence. The architecture is constructed from local raw materials, with a yellow-toned stone and rich walnut wood. The aesthetic is uniquely understated and earthy—offering a simplicity and timelessness that inspires our vision of classic design.
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What motivated the creation of Foncėne?
A few years ago, I faced health challenges with a condition that impacted my joints and mobility. At the time, we were both in the fast-paced environment of a London tech company. In 2018, our decision to adopt a vegan lifestyle marked a turning point. We embarked on a journey to establish Foncėne, driven not only by the desire to create beautiful shoes without animal products but also to develop a sustainable working model that accommodated my health needs and allowed me to heal. We immersed in the art of bespoke shoemaking, collaborating closely with highly skilled artisans from Hermès and John Lobb to design a business that prioritises kindness towards animals and humans alike.
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What are the key factors in building a company with a sustainable approach?
In reality, anything we bring to the world that isn't essential to life can never truly be sustainable. Additionally, any business operating within the framework of capitalism faces inherent sustainability challenges. However, I am committed to building what we call a 'beautiful business' that prioritises kindness towards both animals and humans. This entails not only creating animal-free shoes but also ensuring the well-being and success of our team. From the outset, we made the decision to maintain full financial autonomy to allow us to uphold these values. This has permitted us to grow gradually and deliberately.
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What inspired the creation of your podcast Foncėne Voices?
With Foncėne Voices, our goal was to unpack the concept of 'sustainability'. This term is widely used but can sometimes feel hollow. While sustainability is commonly associated with ecological concerns, it also encompasses continuity. How might we maintain a work-life balance that can sustain interest, happiness and well-being over time? How might we design products to resist obsolescence? We began speaking with individuals whose lives are guided by their values and missions, big or small, to explore various ways this vision can be realised.
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How long does it take to create each pair of Isobels?
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The creation of a single pair of Isobels takes approximately three weeks, starting from the moment we ‘click’ the materials to the final step of inserting the logo-stamped sock. Each step is done entirely by hand, employing traditional shoemaking techniques by our highly skilled artisans in Milan.
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Lastly, how do you manage the balance between parenthood and running a company?
Balancing business and parenthood is a significant endeavour and I’m always working to design a better equilibrium. However, there is an efficiency and determination gained from parenthood. When our daughter, Sóa, was waking more than 12 times a night with silent reflux and Covid had closed our atelier, we maintained the belief that what we were doing was important and we needed to keep going. I have Sóa to thank for this strength.
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Still curious
Join Foncėne Voices, our podcast series exploring a range of perspectives on what it means to live and work sustainably, with Susanna and Pierre-Julien.
