- David MATEO -
At Veggie Word Paris, which took place on April 2nd and 3rd, the ASHOKA PARIS team had the pleasure of exhibiting their latest creations, including their diversification into the footwear sector. ASHOKA PARIS indeed presented its first sneaker collection, the MATEO.
To launch the Mateo, ASHOKA PARIS did not start from scratch, far from it. The company relied on the experience and expertise of its product designer, David Mateo. "When Gwenaëlle and Frédéric, the two founding leaders of the brand, decided to venture into footwear, they called on me because I have extensive experience in the sector," he explains. "It would have been a shame if David, who has been working on the creation of our bags and accessories for years, didn't share his 20 years of expertise in shoe production with us," adds Frédéric Vergoz.
With all his years of imagination and ideas, David Mateo immediately made style proposals. "I've drawn so many that it just flows from the pencil," he jokes. He wanted to offer two versions of the Mateo: a low-top and a high-top version. The decisions were made by the team, evolving the designs based on everyone's feelings. Once the design was validated, David created the technical specifications, which were then sent to the factory to produce the first prototypes.
He also opened his network of European suppliers to ASHOKA PARIS, particularly in Portugal, a preferred region for shoe manufacturing. "I introduced Ashoka to a very serious factory with which I have been working for 10 years. Making shoes in Portugal is a guarantee of quality." Indeed, when the entire team went to check the first samples on site, "they were almost perfect."
"Thanks to David's enormous experience, ASHOKA PARIS also benefits from his expertise. As a result, we will offer shoes that meet high quality standards right from the start," explains Frédéric.
The Mateo, made of Apple Skin, is constructed with a Strobel assembly method, which involves sewing the upper and the first sole together, thus offering real flexibility and great resistance. The shoe's inner lining is a technical, breathable, and antibacterial material called "On Steam." It also boasts high abrasion resistance and excellent temperature regulation.
The insole is injected, providing optimal comfort thanks to its thickness, foam density, and an arch support.
In terms of style, it incorporates the essential codes of the sneaker, notably the "cup sole."
We paid particular attention to the shape of the overlays. We wanted to offer an original and easily identifiable sneaker model. "We wanted a logo that would be an identifying element of the shoe. We didn't want it to be just like any other shoe." This logo is the stylized "A" of "Ashoka." Once the logo was validated, the shoe was designed around it.
"The Mateo is, in a way, the synthesis of the best ideas I've had over the past 20 years. After more than 3500 models designed in my career, the Mateo is, in a sense, the quintessence of my creative spirit. I designed my first shoe collection for a major international surf wear brand in 2002. Some models from that collection sold over 40,000 copies. After this initial success, I continuously designed and produced shoes for renowned brands in France," adds David.
Why wait so long to launch our first shoe? "From the very beginning of Ashoka Paris, we registered our brand with the INPI in the footwear category, because from the outset, we knew we would get there one day. We wanted to master the manufacturing of bags and accessories before diversifying. Thanks to the recent arrival of our investors, the idea has become a reality," specifies Frédéric.
With ASHOKA PARIS, it's a matter of heart. After offering him one of the "most incredible experiences of his career" with the design of the capsule collection of bags for Pamela Anderson, "Gwenaëlle and Frédéric honored me greatly by naming ASHOKA PARIS's first shoe after me. It's a mark of recognition - and we all need recognition to move forward in life - but it also tells a story. I think they are very committed to the fact that all products created at Ashoka Paris have a story. These are not products that we pick off a shelf in a factory, but the result of a long creative process.
We work a lot together, we develop the products together.
It's a story they want to tell, and it's a beautiful story of prioritizing people."
Our Mateo sneakers will be available in the coming weeks.