I CONTACT
HEAVEN CLUESMAN
Footwear and Accessories Design ’27
Photo by Smiljana Peros
HOW DID YOU
DEVELOP YOUR
SENSE OF STYLE
?
My grandmother was a true Western woman, a modern-day cowgirl. She drove trucks across the country for 40 years. She wore cowboy boots every day, structured leather bags, belts, and classic western-style jackets. Nothing was overly styled or precious; everything had a purpose and a story.
She died when I was 10, but her style influenced how I approach both personal style and design. I am drawn to strong silhouettes, tactile materials, and functional yet expressive pieces. And I love cowboy boots. I love the history behind Western footwear and how the roots go back to Indigenous tribes and Mexican vaqueros.
I visited FIT thinking I’d go into Fashion Business Management, but after I took a tour with Sarah Mullins, chair of Footwear and Accessories Design, I applied for that major. Learning how to make shoes had always been a dream of mine, and it was the perfect place to focus on craftsmanship, construction, and material exploration.
“These boots, which I designed for the Saga Furs competition, are made from red Italian pull-up leather, red calfskin suede, and scarlet red mink fur that was ethically sourced from Pologeorgis Furs. The design was inspired by my grandmother and by the Finnish word rajaton, which means ‘limitless.’ They represent strength, heritage, and pushing beyond boundaries, both technically and conceptually.”
Location: The Copper Room by Flying Solo @flyingsolonyc @flyingsolo_pr – Stylists: Katherine Lares @katie.lares & Heaven Cluesman @heavenleigh_c – Photographer: Mera Naoyasu @naoyasu_mera – Talent/Model: Mia Wyble @miawyble @elitenyc – HMUA: Geya Zheng @zheng_geya