Shimrit Manor, the girl behind Lollytout: “I don’t know how to draw a straight line”. But, she doesn’t really need to know to make great designs.

            When I thought of shoes, an image came into my mind...that of the malls. These big magazines made us forget about imagination and the feeling of being unique. Now, in my mind the malls are history. I absolutely love hand painted one-of-a-kind shoes. It’s like wearing a piece of art. And you can be sure that no other woman will have the shoes you wear. Lollytout only makes originals designs. Each design is offered for sale in a limited edition of up to 50 units worldwide. However, because each shoe is hand brush painted -by one of Lollytout artists they can’t really create two identical pairs, and don’t really want to. But who is behind these beautiful shoes?
 

Lollytout was founded by Shimrit Manor. As she states out, Shimrit dreamed and searched for shoes just like these: a one of a kind unique pair, high quality and durable. After a lot of searches and different ideas of how shoes must be created, she decided it’s time to stop searching and start creating.

- How did you start your business?
So… the truth is I don’t know how to draw a straight line - I established "Lollytout" as an entrepreneur. Was looking for shoes on web and couldn't find any that made me fully satisfied… So I Started learning about the shoe, colors and art industries and hired the best artists, colors and shoe experts. "Lollytout" head of design is Ofri Frastai, he is Responsible of all the artistic side and he is so talented and doing a wonderful job at it!!!

- What goes into making a hand painted shoe?

Each shoe is individually painted by hand and goes through several accurate processes until the moment it is sent to the specific client for whom it was created. It involves protecting, drawing and sealing – takes 4 days approximately to make one shoe, depends on the design. Each shoe is hand brush painted by one of "Lollytout" artists

- Describe a working day.
"Lollytout" have a studio in Tel Aviv. The day starts with thinking about new designs (a staff meeting) and then the artists start drawing on the shoes. They meet costumers at the studio and try to create for them the perfect shoe / Purse for a weeding / special night.

- How do people get in touch with you?
We sell throw our web site: www.lollytout.com and at our studio in Tel Aviv. The easy way is to write us an e-mail to Lollytout@gmail.com Or give us a call.

- What are your thoughts about the handmade trends that are rather new and growing?
I think it's fantastic!!! People are so talented and the sky is the limits. For me, I think in time we forgot how to appreciate good quality and started buying all the "made in china" plastics. Handmade is refreshing – buying a handmade makes me feel it was mad especially for me! And I Love it.

- I see a lot of people starting their handmade business. What do you think makes you stand out from the crowd?
As I said… I don’t know how to draw a straight line and established "Lollytout" as an entrepreneur. I think that the way I can combine Art with Business and I don’t "fall in love" with my own designs – I can judge them in an objective way. Also I think I managed to pick the best artist EVER.
- What are your future plans in art and in your business?
For now It's all about letting people know we are here, We started Purses and bags and That is the fun with working with creative people – you can never know what's next.

Lollytout doesn’t make only high heels shoes for women. Brides and kids are not left out. And you can always have a matching hand bag. All hand painted, of course.

                Wishing many, many great designs to the team of Lollytout!

              

The artist behind the hand painted portrait T-shirts – Elena Di Natale

            Many people appreciate hand painted items, especially T-shirts, but few really understand the process. It starts with an idea and the painter makes it alive drawn by his inspiration and talent. Easy said but hard to get. The process may take from half an hour to even days, depending on the drawing. However, some painters stop at some certain drawings, based on their own feelings. Elena Di Natale prefers to paint portraits on T-shirt. Not an easy job at all. I guess the passion she’s drawn with while painting made me love her T-shirts so much. That made me talk to her in order to understand how she became a T-shirt painter and.... more important ...how is it that she is so good at what she’s doing?

 How did you start your business?                       

“I started my project for a Creative Festival in Florence in October 2010. I participated to a creativity market where I presented and sold for the first time my hand painted T-shirt. I got so many nice compliments and requests from family, friends and people, that I started to make some for other people”.

When have you started drawing, painting?
 “I started drawing when I was a child. I have always loved to draw but I realized I had a talent at the Art School when I started to make realistic portraits”.

            She didn’t stick only to that. She went to the next level, by stundying painting at the Art high school in Florence and Visual Design at the University.

How do you make a T-shirt?
“When I make a T-shirt with a realistic Portrait, I usually need 3-5 hours. I use a T-shirt like a canvas. First I draw the portrait and then I paint with special fabrics colors. The next day, I fix the paint by ironing on the reverse side of the fabric with a hot iron. In this way the t-shirt can be washed at 30 degree”.

           Making T-shirts is such a big passion, that Elena turned it into a second job.
“For 3 years I sold my T-shirts in craft markets before in Italy and for one year in Australia where I lived in 2011. In 2011, I also opened my shop in Etsy.com where I actually sell my T-shirts. Now I'm a Visual designer, I work in the center of Lucca in an amazing Graphic Studio. When I have free time I keep on painting because this is my passion. You can find everything in my Etsy shop: www.elenadinatale.etsy.com"

            Entering in a new, relatively young domain is easy, but staying in it is hard, since hundreds of new artists start their business every month. Some stay in, some get out through back door. I asked Elena what makes her stand out from the crowd. Confidence in her talent is the key. “I'm a painter before a handmade T-shirt painter. If people love my drawing, they also love my T-shirts. My T-shirts are art to wear! My T-shirts are a sort of economic version of a framework. A framework that everyone can buy”.

In the future, Elena hopes to keep on doing everything that has to do with CREATIVITY: graphic, art, photography. “Now I am still working in Magazzino77 to became a good Visual designer”.

You can keep in touch with Elena Di Natale and her Art to Wear T-shirts on www.elenadinatale.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-to-wear/248321568523835

             Wishing luck to this fresh artist!

 Although, I don’t really think she needs it. She’s too good :)

Don't throw away your old shoes! Painted shoes - a new trend for fashion addicts

The new handmade trade these days are hand painted shoes. While some people enjoy the look of clean-cut shoes others might be more interested in acquiring something with more personality. Paint can actually create a visually appealing design, incorporating a variety of colors and shapes to create an original pair of shoes.


The most frequent hand painted shoes that you can find online are sneakers. But beware! You have to have a great sense of humor if you want wear them :) : "It all starts with a good shoe" - says Rhonda Savage on her about shop page. I would ad: Here is definitely a good painted shoe.

 

You can find more painted sheakers here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/seriouslysavage






Imagination has no boundaries for these painted shoes artists. Take a look at your feet and see what are they doing in your sneakers : A Meng Meng Zahn funny design.

See the designers shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/paintedscanvas

New York City is literally at your feet thanks to The Sneak Freak's shoes. A talented young artist from USA, Keara Brady painted these unique sneakers.

You can find more of Keara's shoes here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSneakFreak












The shoe painted market has pieces for all tastes. Ladies are therefore not left out from this trend. Liudmila Rosario Ponko thought of everything when she painted high heels shoes. They don't have a comic design as the sneaker do. The artist rather preferred the patterns.

 See more Ponko shoes here: http://www.ponkoboutique.com/

You don't need an umbrella for these Lollytout shoes. They have one of their own. And the sense of humor is not left behind. Full of personality shoes I might say.

 You can find more of Lollytout shoes here: https://www.facebook.com/Lollytout

Messages are not left out from the fashion trend. And if you are a religious person you might want to think of buying a Paper Hearts Apparel shoe. Look at your feet while taking a walk in the park or on the beach and remember to….LOVE.

You can find more painted shoes here: https://www.facebook.com/PaperHeartsCouncil

Art to wear….on a T-shirt

They stare at you with indifference as if you don’t even exist. The characters have their own personality. You just can’t take your eyes off of them. All black on white, with a little bit of red to stand out from the crowd. Simple and yet complicated drawings. Hip. Modern. Sensual. That is how I would describe the “Art to Ware” T-shirts drawings. 

The artist behind the hand drawn products is an Italian girl passionate about portraits, Elena di Natale. It’s a good thing she didn’t let this talent wasted and graduated Disegno Industriale, Curriculum Visual Designer in Florence.  

Admire this artist’s T-shirts or even buy them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-to-wear/248321568523835