Who are you? Where do you come from and what do you do?

Cecilia Bringheli, I’m from Milan and I am a shoe designer

How did you start your job?

I started because I felt I could never find flats, besides ballerinas, that could be elegant and feminine, yet practical, for a modern woman who might walk out the door in the morning and come back home  after dinner. Therefore I draw, initially only for my own self,  this very simple model as I needed to have a simple pair of shoes that could be comfortable and “always right”. Right after i had so many requests from men that we started  to adapt the same model also to create  a men’s line to go together with the female one.

What fascinates most about your job?

Let’s start saying that producing in Italy it’s very challenging , especially in a beginning stage. Finding the best artisanal factory that understands the needs of a new brand that wants and aims to move and play in an always faster world it’s somehow an oxymoron between the reality of the demand  from customers and the need to respect the right timing needed to produce a top of the notch handmade slipper, like Cb’s. So far we’re managing to make it ! We know by first name every single artisan -we prefer to consider them artists- that works on our shoes and we strongly believe that our product is the best possible available. The love that somehow it’s given to our product from this people, it makes a huge difference. On top of this, we would never accept to work producing in any other country, especially those that do not respect human rights or employ underage workers. We think that respecting  workers and pay them a fair salary is the base for a truly successful business and this might also help contributing to  create a better world, even if this might be just a drop of water in the Ocean. I work hard, especially because when you’re having such a small company as mine, you have to take care of every aspect, including numbers and smaller details so , my method, it’s to do one thing at the time and to love what i do.

Who/what have mostly determined your life?

I don’t want to sound cheesy but as many things in life, I guess, family is always one ofthe main sources of inspiration. My mother has raised me to a natural inclination towards elegance and taste without need to show off and this will always be my starting point. Then, come all of the external world influences. In this case it is never something specific, I can’t point out a single reference or icon. I would say it is more the result of events or simple objects and situations that impact with my mood and emotions. The important thing (there I go sounding cheesy again..) is always to be curious and open-minded.

Why is Cecilia special?

Determination certainly occupies the first place. It might seem very obvious but as a young woman growing in this society I have learned that many people unfortunately don’t work on determination that much. Another essential thing is to love what you do and this really goes along with having to be determined. To me the key is to try to approach things with the right amount of courage and foolishness balanced with the right amount of tough work and expertise.

What  is your soundtrack at the moment?

Nicolas Jaar, I went to his concert last Sunday and it was amazing. Dancing, singing, playing, he is from 1990, genious!!!

How is your ideal day?

Wake up in a huge white bed full of pillows, have breakfast in bed, go on a sailing boat trip under the sun with my friends. Aperitivo at sunset feeling the effect of the sun on my face, cook a typical Italian dinner for my friends together with a good bottle of wine and someone playing a guitar.

Which are your favorite pieces of your wardrobe?

When I choose my clothes, I always think that “less is more”: the simpler, the more elegant. My favorite pieces are a little black dress, jeans, t-shirts, shirts and sweaters…I’m always cold!

How and where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well.. quite a strange question to answer. I guess if I had an exact timing I would have to start a new job as fortune teller. Seriously, I suppose success is not something you can achieve and put aside judging it by some scale of any sort but rather something you have to continuously look forward to, also on a more personal and interior level. Setting goals is an important way of getting through the process and the goals change according to your growth, both in a professional and in a personal way. And I hope that someday I will be the mother of the kid of the man I will love.

Could you please suggest me some special places to go shopping?

I don’t do shopping a lot I have to be honest. I can say that I go to “il Salvagente” that is an outlet in Via Fratelli Bronzetti in Milan, but you have to be patient when you go there, so I just go sometimes and then I go to Zara and H&M most of the time.

http://www.cbmadeinitaly.com/

Share