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From heartache to breakthrough: Lady Gaga shoemaker shares story

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Christel Lagdameo, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pVda72pqmQ?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>MANILA - From mending a broken heart to becoming one of the makers of the world&#x27;s most innovative shoes: Global footwear brand United Nude gained fame for its unique shoe designs.The brand has produced irreverent customized shoes for Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and collaborating with famed designers Issey Miyake, Iris Van Herpen and the late Zaha Hadid.But it all started off as simple shoe sketches in 1999 when its founder, Rem D. Koolhaas, was nursing a broken heart.&quot;I was heartbroken over a girl that made me sort of downscale from larger architecture to a more vulnerable and intimate... the smallest scale of architecture, which was that of a woman&#x27;s foot,&quot; Koolhaas recounted.Koolhaas&#x27; first design-- the Mobius, a shoe made from a single strap twisting around the foot.The future-sleek design caught the eyes of his uncle and namesake, famed Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, who presented it to his clients, the Pradas, ultimately paving the way to his meeting with 7th generation shoe-maker, Galahad Clark.Together, they established United Nude in 2003, and has since gained a following with over fifty branches worldwide. The footwear brand continues its expansion overseas, with concept stores in New York, London, Tokyo and just last year, Manila.The secret to his success-- a great deal of perseverance and a belief in his own talent despite multiple rejections.&quot;I knew I had something... I had a design and I knew my design was good,&quot; Koolhaas shared.Fifteen years on, Koolhaas continues to challenge himself as he leads his team beyond shoes and into more ventures and collaborations.&quot;A boss is somebody that people want to work for, that people want to join their mission, that they want to be part of something that that person&#x27;s doing... We don&#x27;t choose the easiest way, hardly ever. We choose the hard way because it&#x27;s more interesting.&quot;Catch the full interview on ANC&#x27;s &quot;The Boss.&quot; April 18, Thursday, at 7:30 PM. The Boss airs Thursdays 7:30 PM and replays every Thursday 11:30 PM; Friday 3:30 AM and 1:00 PM; Saturday 4:00 AM and 6:00 PM; Sunday 11:30 AM; Monday 9:30 AM. The Boss is also available on Iwant.ph and TFC.tv.

From mending a broken heart to becoming one of the makers of the world's most innovative shoes: Global footwear brand United Nude gained fame for its unique shoe designs.

From mending a broken heart to becoming one of the makers of the world's most innovative shoes: Global footwear brand United Nude gained fame for its unique shoe designs.

From heartache to breakthrough: Lady Gaga shoemaker shares story

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From heartache to breakthrough: Lady Gaga shoemaker shares story

Christel Lagdameo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 25, 2019 08:31 PM PHT

Read More:

The Boss

ANC

ANC Top

ANC Exclusives

Rem Koolhaas

United Nude

Lady Gaga

shoes

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