On one of several walks through the shoe department of Galeries Lafayette, I realized the store was a likely place to discover new brands—brands that were new to me, not necessarily ones that were new to the market. Ultimately, I decided that browsing the shoe selection online would be more efficient. Thus, I set out to round up six styles that represent companies I hadn’t heard of before arriving in Paris. (Although, I may have heard of Jonak before now; I can’t remember.)
Works Sighted
Victoria // Many (but not all) of the sneakers are tastefully emblazoned with the letter V; not to be confused with Veja. victoriachaussures.com
Rivecour // Shoes that are classic, elegant, and walkable. rivecour.com
AGL // A third-generation Italian brand run by three sisters; shoes with character and platforms. agl.com
Jonak // Classic, versatile shoes at a reasonable price point. jonak.fr
Clae // Minimalistic sneakers made from organic and recycled materials. clae.eu
Free Lance // High heels of varying heights. freelance.fr