If you love handcrafted shoes with a unique touch, you’ll want to meet Violet Tashchyan. The designer behind Violet Tash Shoes is on a mission to keep shoe manufacturing in the USA while creating stylish, comfortable footwear.
We sat down with Violet Tashchyan, founder and designer of Violet Tash Shoes, to talk to her about what it’s like to find inspiration, be born into the business, and boldly decide to retain all shoe manufacturing processes at home in the USA.
Violet Tashchyan founded Violet Tash Shoes only two years ago, but shoes and designing are not new to her.
Backed by a degree in Interior Design and Architecture and the Tashchyan Shoe Manufacturing Company, which has been around for 30 years, shoe designing is second nature to Violet Tashchyan—it’s practically in her blood.
The first Violet Tash collection was launched a little over a year ago. The brand is gearing up for spring and summer with elegant strappy leather sandals, unique wooden heels with embellished hand-carved platforms, and hot-to-have clog-inspired shoe styles.
Ms. Tashchyan also talks about which of her shoes are her personal favorite and which she considers must-haves- find out which shoes they are in this YNS exclusive interview with Violet Tashchyan:
1. How Violet Tashchyan Turned Her Passion for Design Into a Shoe Brand
My dad has owned and operated a shoe-manufacturing factory in downtown LA for 30 years. I was pretty much born into the business. When I was a little girl, my brother and I would go to trade shows in Las Vegas and NY and play on the floor in the show booth while my parents conducted business.
I got a degree in Interior Design and Architecture from FIDM and worked in the field for five years, but when the economy went down south, that business stopped. I went back home and started a shoe line with the help of my dad.
2. What Inspires Violet Tashchyan’s Unique Handmade Shoe Designs?
I was living in NYC, and my parents were in LA. When I told my family that I wanted to move back home and start a shoe line, they were really happy and excited.
They flew into JFK, picked me up, and we traveled the world—from Europe to China. I looked at all the street and high fashion in all the places we visited and based the first collection on that.
(On her shoe designing process) The shoes had to be comfortable. That was the #1 priority. I can’t imagine any New Yorker wearing shoes you can’t walk in. And #2, they had to be handmade with many intricate details. Handmade is what makes Violet Tash Shoes different than any other brand out there.
3. Why Violet Tash Shoes Refuses to Outsource – The Fight to Keep Footwear American-Made
If my name was going to be on a shoe line, it had to be made domestically. I was born and raised in Hollywood Hills, California, and about 10-15 years ago, there were plenty of manufacturing factories in downtown LA making clothes, shoes, bags, etc.
Now, I can count how many factories exist in LA. It makes me sad just thinking about it. When people hear that shoes are made in America, they look at us and almost can’t believe it. People show more interest when they hear “made in America.”
Violet Tashchyan, the visionary designer behind Violet Tash Shoes, champions handcrafted, American-made footwear with a focus on comfort and style
4. The Best and Worst Parts of Being a Shoe Designer, According to Violet Tashchyan
My favorite part of being a shoe designer is testing out the shoes! Sometimes, I end up having identical shoes in many different colors and get shoes that aren’t sold to the public.
My entire office and closet at home are filled with shoes, shoes, and more shoes. The traveling doesn’t hurt, either. My least favorite part is paperwork and office work, which is the most essential part of the business.
5. A Day in the Life of Shoe Designer Violet Tashchyan
My typical day would involve waking up, having a cup of coffee, going to the factory, spending some time looking at and being inspired by fashion magazines, browsing the Internet, putting color combinations together, trying to make a new sample shoe a day, and dealing with paperwork.
6. Violet Tashchyan’s Signature Style: What Makes Her Shoes Unique?
Every shoe needs a little detail. Some styles have chains, some have hand carving on wedge bottoms, some have gathering in the front, and all wood-bottom shoes are hand carved and polished from raw lumber. It just feels better to be wearing shoes that aren’t assembled by a machine.
7. Must-Have Shoes From Violet Tashchyan’s Collection (Designer’s Picks)
Violet Tash Cowgirl
I personally love “Cowgirl,” a classy wood-bottomed closed-toe cowboy platform shoe. It looks great with pants, shorts, and skirts.
The color combination is soft earth tones that can easily be paired with jeans and tee shirts. You can wear them in the winter and summer.
Violet Tash Maze
“Maze” is a must-have. Every girl or woman needs that one go-to shoe that’s comfortable enough to wear all day and cute enough to rock during the night.
8. Who is the Violet Tash Woman? (The Brand’s Ideal Customer)
The Violet Tash girl is a jet-setter. She travels a lot and needs key pieces of clothing and shoes that can easily be paired with any outfit. She can also mix and match outfits and accessories and still make it work. She looks for comfort but always needs to be on top of fashion.
9. What’s Next for Violet Tash Shoes? Upcoming Collections & Future Goals
I see the brand growing and expanding in many different directions.
I want all the big department stores in America to carry my line and support all domestically made products because that’s the only way America can regain its manufacturing factories.
Also, you can always count on my styles to be comfortable and different from any other shoe line you see in the market.
10. Violet Tashchyan’s Expert Shoe Tip: How to Break in Tight Shoes Comfortably
If a shoe feels slightly tight, you can try softening it by briefly exposing it to warm (not hot) water and wearing thick socks while breaking it in.
However, avoid using this method on leather, suede, or delicate materials, as water can cause warping, discoloration, or damage. For a safer alternative, consider using a shoe stretcher or a shoe stretch spray to gently expand the material without risking damage.
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