Bionda Castana: The Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of a Luxury British Shoe Brand

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Bionda Castana is a British fashion label known for its stunning designs, ultra-feminine shapes, elegant styles, and unapologetically glamorous shoes.

Showing masterful Italian craftsmanship, each shoe is handcrafted using materials of the finest quality.

The creative process involves meticulous attention to detail and a great emphasis on comfort to ensure the shoes are stylish yet wearable. The label’s fans include Ahna O’Reilly, Bella Thorne, Sophia Bush, Debby Ryan, Taylor Swift, Jessica Biel, and Rashida Jones.

Kristen Wiig wearing a  Yigal Azrouël dress, Jennifer Fisher jewelry, and Bionda Castana shoes to the 2015 Film Independent Spirit AwardsKristen Wiig wearing a Yigal Azrouël dress, Jennifer Fisher jewelry, and Bionda Castana shoes to the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards held on February 21, 2015, in Santa Monica, California (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)

In 2016, the shoe brand ceased operations. Natalia Barbieri and Jennifer Portman, who founded the label in 2007, reportedly could not come to terms with their investors. The label was briefly relaunched in 2018 with a new direct-to-consumer, zero-waste strategy.

On July 30, 2021, the brand ceased operations once again. “Here at Bionda Castana HQ, we have decided to take a break and focus on some other exciting projects for a while,” the label announced on Instagram.

“We want to thank our community for your continued support over the past 13 years. By no means is this the end, just a pause,” the founders added.

Bionda Castana founders Natalia Barbieri and Jennifer Portman are announcing another break in July 2021Bionda Castana founders Natalia Barbieri and Jennifer Portman are announcing another break in July 2021

With a commitment to innovation and style, the label pushed boundaries to maintain its reputation as a leader in luxury footwear. One such example was their highly acclaimed Spring/Summer 2014 collection, where the brand’s modern aesthetic truly shone.

For its Spring/Summer 2014 advertising campaign, Bionda Castana enlisted the help of photographer Dima Hohlov and stylist Natalie Brewster to create a modern chic vibe.

Kristen Wiig shows off her feet in Bionda Castana ‘Atlanta’ bow-embellished shoesKristen Wiig shows off her feet in Bionda Castana ‘Atlanta’ bow-embellished shoes (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)

The following photographs, shot in a beautiful studio in London, perfectly showcase the brand’s modern aesthetic and the exquisite shoes from Bionda Castana’s latest collection.

Shoe brand Bionda Castana has released its spring-summer 2014 campaign starring one of Croatia's most successful models Kristina SalinovicShoe brand Bionda Castana has released its spring-summer 2014 campaign starring one of Croatia’s most successful models, Kristina Salinovic

Croatian model Kristina Salinovic is the perfect embodiment of understated elegance and modern sophistication, so she was tapped to be the face of the label for its Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Kristina Salinovic for the Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 advertising campaignKristina Salinovic for the Bionda Castana Spring/Summer 2014 advertising campaign photographed by Dima Hohlov in London, England, in December 2013

Bionda Castana "Lana" in RedBionda Castana “Lana” in Red

Bionda Castana "Rosario" in Red SuedeBionda Castana “Rosario” in Red Suede, $560

Bionda Castana "Daphne Bis" in Leopard PrintBionda Castana “Daphne Bis” in Leopard Print, $570.62

Bionda Castana "Erika"Bionda Castana “Erika”

Bionda Castana "Erika" in Leopard PrintBionda Castana “Erika” in Leopard Print

Bionda Castana "Daphne Bis" in Black LaceBionda Castana “Daphne Bis” in Black Lace, $957.71

Bionda Castana "Lana" in BlackBionda Castana “Lana” in Black, $665

Bionda Castana "Maite" in PinkBionda Castana “Maite” in Pink

Bionda Castana "Lana" in LemonBionda Castana “Lana” in Lemon, $707.88

Bionda Castana "Rosario" in White LeatherBionda Castana “Rosario” in White Leather, $682.89

Bionda Castana "Marion"Bionda Castana “Marion”

Bionda Castana "Maite" in GreenBionda Castana “Maite” in Green

The shoes in this collection feature gorgeous pastel colors, bow accents, metallic details, flirty mesh panels, floral prints, rich fabrics, and varying heel heights.

Check out some of the other shoes from Bionda Castana’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection:

Bionda Castana "Alessia" “Alessia”

Bionda Castana "Bella"“Bella”

Bionda Castana "Carey"“Carey”

Bionda Castana "Carine"“Carine”

Bionda Castana "Caterina"“Caterina”

Bionda Castana "Chelsea"“Chelsea”

Bionda Castana "Daphne"“Daphne”

Bionda Castana "Daphne Bis" in Pink“Daphne Bis” in Pink

Bionda Castana "Diana"“Diana”

Bionda Castana "Elisabetta"“Elisabetta”

Bionda Castana "Elle"“Elle”

Bionda Castana "Goga"“Goga”

Bionda Castana "Joan"“Joan”

Bionda Castana "Kaya"“Kaya”

Bionda Castana "Langley"“Langley”

Bionda Castana "Norma"“Norma”

Bionda Castana "Rosa"“Rosa”

Bionda Castana’s distinctive designs have been embraced by numerous celebrities, highlighting the brand’s versatility and appeal. For instance, Bella Thorne showcased the label’s charm by pairing a floral Blumarine dress with apple green Bionda Castana pumps at Disney’s ‘Planes’ premiere.

Similarly, Sophia Bush exuded elegance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, complementing her ensemble with Bionda Castana’s silicone-detailed ‘Daphne Bis’ lace pumps.