Vote for Gabby!

Gabby Hale is a true talent and one of our wonderful "Contributing Fashion Illustrators" for our online boutique.  As a thank you for her many shoe illustration contributions, I sent her a package not too long ago with some goodies, a t-shirt, a framed shoe illustration, and a couple of drawings that my two daughters had done of their own shoe designs.  I was catching up on my blog reading not too long after that when I went to Gabby's blog and found that my two little darlings' designs had been the inspiration for her latest post and shoe illustration.  I was a proud mother, of course, and Cherysh, my oldest daughter, was ecstatic!  She came home from school and I showed her Gabby's post and she just went wild.  She thought that was the coolest thing ever.  When Gabby offered this latest edition for our boutique, I was thrilled, because not only was it adorable, but it held a special place in my heart.

Purchase Gabby Hale's designs today!

Gabby is currently in a shoe design contest and with her recent shoe illustration contribution coupled with this contest that I want to help her win, I thought it was about time we followed up with her.  Below you will find an exclusive interview with our lovely, Gabby Hale...

Moms, you can buy one for your daughter, too!

Q.  Tell us a little personal background about yourself?


A.  I'm from Singapore, now living in Texas. I'm married to a wonderful man who is my biggest fan of my shoe designs.

Q. What made you decide to start designing shoes?


A.  This is not a childhood dream for sure. I started taking an interest in shoe designing a few years back. I love shoes and just couldn't find enough interesting designs on the market. That was when I wished I could have my own designs.

Q.  Where do you get your inspiration from in your design process?


A.  I get my inspiration from many different things...from things that I see, things that I like and things that I imagine.

Q.  What shoe designer do you admire most and why?


A.  I love Manolo Blahnik. I find his shoes very timeless, classy and wearable.

Q.  What are some of your future goals as a shoe designer and otherwise?


A.  Well, I am a shoe designer wanna be. Right now I'm just a shoe designer virtually on my blog. If I can ever really become a shoe designer, my goal is to be as successful as Monolo Blahnik where every shoe lover would want to own a pair of my shoes. It doesn't matter if I'm working for a label or for my own, I am just loving the designing process. Can't wait for the time where my designs will be produced.

"Breaking Free" can be found in our online boutique as well.

Q.  What are you favorite materials to use for your illustrations (paper, paints, pencils...etc.)?


A.  I love the old fashion way. Only paper and markers are used for my illustrations. 

With all of these fabulous illustrations that Gabby donated to The CFP, won't you go vote for her today?

Q.  What advice do you have for your fellow shoe designers?


A.  I'm not qualified enough to call myself a shoe designer yet as I'm not formally employed as one. But I would tell all fellow shoe designer wanna be's to start sketching your designs so that you don't lose them in your many thoughts and believe in yourself.

Here is my eight year old daughter, Cherysh's shoe design we sent to Gabby.

Q.   Do you study art/design?  Where and what has been your most valuable lesson you have learned?


A.  Right now, I am studying fashion design at HCC. My school does not teach shoe designing but I am making the best of what is available to me to get closer to my goal.

My three year old daughter, Adia's shoe design...lol!

Q.  Tell us about the shoe you created using my daughters', Cherysh and Adia's, drawings?

A.  When I did that post, I had already set the theme to incorporate their drawings into the designs. I tried to draw like I was nine years old. It was challenging, but I'm happy that they are happy with the design at the end of the day. I have achieved my goal.

Here is the design Gabby came up with from Cherysh and Adia's  designs as inspiration.

Q.  Explain this contest you have entered and how can people help?

A.  I have entered three shoe designs to the shoe design contest organized by Vince Camuto and Lucky Magazine. The winning design will be produced by Vince Camuto and the winner will be featured in Lucky's September issue. I will need every vote from all of you from now till May 25, 2011 in order to stand a chance to win and take a step closer to becoming a shoe designer.

Let's help Gabby by voting for her designs in this Lucky Magazine contest! 

  Click here now to vote for Gabby Hale's entries in the Vince Camuto Shoe Design Contest and let's help her WIN!

Introducing Our New Contributing Fashion Illustrator...Gabby Hale!

Purchase this vintage white tee "Breaking Free" at our boutique.

Gabby Hale is originally from Singapore, but is currently living and going to college as a fashion student in Houston, Texas.  She claims to love the three S's...Shoes, Shopping, and Sleeping...a girl after my own heart!  Her current goals are to travel the world and become a shoe legend, like her idol Manolo Blahnik, by designing thousands of shoes by retirement.  She is well on her way and has created a "Sunday ONLY" shoe blog with original short stories and original shoe designs.  Between the dates of January 16, 2011 and December 25, 2011, Gabby has comitted to designing 59 shoe designs with 59 short stories attached.  Follow Gabby on her wild design ride this year on her blog Hi Hi Heels.

This tiny tote with artwork by Gabby Hale is available here.

Gabby's goals, however, far outreach her design ambitions as she also wants to make a difference in the world.  On her blog she mentions some her concerns for the masses including "happiness, health, and safety for all her loved ones, world peace, and hopes one day we find a cure for cancer."  She is starting here at The Compassion Fashion Project by donating her talent for art and design to our online boutique to help us raise funds for our mission to continue to provide fashionable clothing, accessories, and personal care products to those whom have been affected by domestic violence.  Gabby not only designs "beautiful soles," she is a "beautiful soul."

Shoe designer Gabby Hale creates "Embrace" for our shop.

I first met Gabby on IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) in a group she had created for Project  Runway lovers and loved her work.

I reached out to Gabby about donating some of her designs to The Compassion Fashion Project boutique.

Gabby takes her shoe designing very seriously and once told me, "I love shoe designing so much."

When I asked her about her art she replied, "I actually do not think I'm much of an artist but more of a designer."

Well, Gabby, I think it's safe to say, you are both! 

"New Bloom" is available for purchase at our boutique.

When chatting about The Compassion Fashion Project she added, "I am very serious about charity work."

Gabby and I discussed the reasons why Elizabeth Newell, my social media administrator, and I are so passionate about our cause and Gabby replied "I'm very impressed with you and your friend's efforts to try to make a difference."

Now Gabby will be making a difference, too.  I was very impressed by the care and thought that she put into her designs for us with the theme of women breaking free from their past and gaining independence. Each design posesses its own special name that she had in mind during the creating process.  Names like "Breaking Free," "Embrace,"

Buy this impulse tote at the official Compassion Fashion Boutique.

and "New Bloom," are sure to inspire any woman who has had to start anew.

We are very proud to have her on our team her at The Compassion Fashion Project as a Contributing Fashion Illustrator and supporter.  Show Gabby some love by following her blog Hi Hi Heels and becoming a fan on her Facebook Page today!