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Check Out Taryn Rose and Enrico Cuini’s Story
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Today we’d like to introduce you to Taryn Rose and Enrico Cuini.
Hi Taryn Rose and Enrico Cuini, it’s an honor to have you on the platform.
Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Enrico: I was born and raised in the Marche region where some of the most reputable brands make their shoes. Growing up, my parents separated, and I was raised by my father with my two sisters. At a young age, my father instilled in me his competitive nature and love for sports. It quickly rubbed off on me, and I became the European champion for windsurfing at 14 and was a candidate for the Italian Olympic team. Unfortunately, it was decided that I was too young and small for the event. Regardless of how good we were in sports, my father didn’t believe in material things so we had to work for what we wanted. I was a high-performance windsurfer, and I was shaping my own boards. The time and energy I spent on creating my boards provided me with the knowledge I have for resins, carbon fibers, fiberglass, and more. Ultimately, it led me to find a special appreciation for shapes and volumes, which plays a large part in my commitment today and creating the perfect fitting shoes for my customers.
In addition to being an athlete, I used to hand paint sneakers to give to the girls I had crushes on. As far back as I can remember, I always loved shoes and remember my mother wearing beautiful run stilettos. However, I went on to pursue a career in architecture and industrial design because I really enjoyed the engineering side of designing. It wasn’t until two decades later that I found my way into the fashion industry. My work of building and restoring buildings, as well as designing lighting, has laid the foundation for me to design shoes. But I wasn’t just designing shoes as beautiful objects but functional and engineered products. Shoes are far more than an accessory item that you wear, shoes are the foundation to making or breaking your day.
In 2013, I finished my last project in Rome and decided it was time to follow my dream of making shoes. I spent hours studying books on foot anatomy and apprenticed with an old-school shoemaker. It was not easy and I wasn’t considered for many potential design positions. My luck changed one afternoon while I was meditating in the pool and a vision of my partner, Taryn Rose, came to me. Taryn and I had met nearly 17 years prior. She is someone who has a great vision and believed that women could have beautiful, sexy shoes – and yet still be comfortable. It was at that moment that I knew I needed to find her again. Thankfully, with the help of social media, I was able to send her a message on Facebook.
Taryn: I was born in Vietnam, and my family were refugees. We fled Vietnam three days before the end of the war, and we only had the clothes on our backs and a suitcase filled with photos. When we arrived in the United States, we found ourselves in Arkansas, which was a big change for us. We were fortunate enough to receive clothes from the Salvation Army so we could stay warm during the cold winter. We were sponsored by a doctor and his wife. I always had a natural gift for the sciences, which led me to medicine.
Ironically enough, during my residency, I had to complete a project on diabetic footwear. One of the problems that diabetics face is that they don’t wear shoes because they aren’t visually appealing. It was because of this that I was tasked to design a better-looking diabetic shoe that would improve compliance.
I didn’t want to just create another clinical shoe. I wanted diabetics to want to wear the shoes and feel confident and comfortable in them. I used my knowledge of shoes and put it into fashion, which became a line that incorporated contoured footbeds and plenty of cushioning. Before I knew it, I was receiving interest from major brands, including Neiman Marcus, who wanted me to create an entirely new category for footwear.
When I decided to pursue my passion for fashion, it was challenging. My parents were disappointed because I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps and practice medicine. I was the oldest, and to them, I needed to set an example. For me though, being an orthopedic surgeon wasn’t my path. I enjoyed it but I loved fashion and wanted to pursue the shoe business. This allowed me to combine my passion with my expertise and knowledge, which not many people are fortunate enough to do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Taryn: Individually and together, there have been struggles. Growing up, my family wanted me to follow in the path that was already set out for me, which was medicine. The disappointment I saw in my parents’ eyes was really hard but something I had to learn to live with, and I think it helped to make me stronger. Additionally, when I began my career in orthopedics, only 10% were women. I had three male residents write a letter to our chairman saying they shouldn’t accept me because they felt uncomfortable, saying that my skirts were too short and I was a distraction. When I went on to launch my shoe business, I was on my own. I worked endless hours and was responsible for paying the bills and my employees. It was stressful but also rewarding in the end.
Enrico: There will always be struggles for anyone pursuing a career or passion. I would be lying if I said otherwise. You never know what obstacles are ahead or how you will navigate them but you will, or at least most people will and do so well. Look at these past 15+ months. With the shutdown restricting events, going into the office, regular events and entertainment, and more, the demand for dress shoes overall fell during the pandemic. Fortunately, we were able to grow Enrico Cuini by 50% in 2020, largely because we found a void that needed to be filled in the shoe industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Taryn: Enrico Cuini is an Italian luxury shoe brand that is committed to designing shoes that empower the wearer and to be comfortable. We are recognized for how we combine technology and fashion with the use of our patented ‘wing’ technology, ALIA, which stands for Active Lift In Alignment. It is the world’s first dynamic support system for your feet and the most lightweight and low-profile support so it can be integrated into sexy high heels or men’s dress shoes. Enrico Cuini offers a bespoke approach to serving our clients with a personalized fit system, and our shoes are sold exclusively online or at pop-up events around the country.
Enrico: Each of our customers go through a personalized virtual fitting consultation with one of our experts. The design team will ask a variety of questions surrounding the client’s lifestyle and current shoe habits. Additionally, they request that you show them a pair of heels that you currently own and how you walk with and without the heels. Then the design team will share their recommendations based on a combination of the form that each individual completes with the information provided in the consultation. This sizing technique is paired with our patented ALIA technology to create a uniquely fitted shoe for the wearer.
Most of our clients come to us for our heels. Our heels are sexy and comfortable because they are custom-made to fit perfectly for the buyer and have our proprietary patented technology, ALIA. Our bespoke approach and technology have made us a favorite for many, including celebrities such as Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks.
Enrico: shoes that make women look and feel beautiful is something we are really proud of. Being able to create shoes that change their postures and silhouette the moment they step in our shoes. It is amazing the impact a shoe can have on someone’s entire day. Our heels improve our clients’ moods and boost their confidence.
We are working on really a unique group of flat sandals. There will be a flip flop, ankle strap, and gladiator silhouette. Our clients wear our shoes to work and to party and now they want them for vacation too. Cuini shoes are sold exclusively online but throughout the year, we hold a series of limited-time pop-up events throughout the country. Our Fall series is currently taking place, with events through October. These events are reservation only, which can be set up on our website at www.enricocuini.com .
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Enrico: The fashion industry is very competitive and continuously evolving. It is challenging to find a mentor but if you are an outsider willing to disrupt things, then you should be able to stand out among the crowd. If you know what you love, find people that have experience and can offer valuable insight. You may be turned away or you may not receive the feedback you were hoping for but don’t let that discourage you. Always focus on excellence over success. When you are ready, success will come.
Taryn: Additionally, being a woman in the industry is hard but being a woman entrepreneur can be even more challenging. The competitive nature of the industry is okay but it is important to remember to support each other. At the end of the day, the purpose behind fashion is to empower the wearer, make them feel confident and good in what they are wearing, and that varies for everyone.
Pricing:
Enrico Cuini designs are made-to-order and feature the highest quality materials, which is why our shoes are so popular.
We feature a variety of different shoe styles ranging from sandals and loafers to sneakers, booties, pumps, and more.
Our pricing begins at $795 and goes up from there.
Contact Info:
E-mail: EnricoCuini@Interdependence.com
Website: https://www.enricocuini.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enricocuini/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCJw9ZnFmuZxkEBS19MgFow
