Primarily a bespoke service in the UK, Heel and Buckle entered India as a retail and online store offering a mix of high street and luxury brands. Launched in London in 2011, the young multi-brand store, which has (unfortunately) limited its bespoke services to the UK, stocks brands like Alessandro, Rad Russell, Paco Gil, Pazzion, Magnani and, most recently, Church’s. However, a full-fledged bespoke studio is in the pipeline in the near future. “For now, we plan to host periodic trunk shows to cater to the market for bespoke footwear. A full-fledged bespoke studio has been included in our plans and will be introduced at a later date,” informs Dhiraj Bhatija, managing director.W1 LRThe store in Mumbai reflects the old-world English feel that the brand stands for. With Mediterranean elements that showcase its Spanish and Italian collaborations, the colour scheme combines earth brown with warm gold, the signature shades of the brand. The men’s collection boasts a good balance of brogues, Oxfords, moccasins, monks and derby styles. The colours range from staid black and classic tans to a select few in bolder, more vibrant hues like cyan, brick red and navy. A Rad Russell textured derby lace-up in tan leather, best worn with a pair of fitted jeans or beige chinos, caught our eye.
The women’s line carries a wide range of dressy pumps, casual flip flops and everything in between. We particularly loved a pair of black Pazzion peep toes with metallic gold detailing. Available online on heelandbuckle.com, the retail chain intends to expand its presence to cities like Bangalore, Chandigarh and Jaipur, with an initial target of up to 12 outlets within the year and 120 shop-in-shops, by 2018.