CALIFORNIA DAWNING

Dawni, a fledgling line of shoes launched by eclectic fashion insider Carola Bernard over a year ago, continues its to gain steam. The new season is driven by an animal-friendly sensibility. Hence no leather, skin, fur or feathers in sight. At the heart of this ethical cruelty-free decision lies the belief that it is possible to create beautiful, luxurious products that safeguard animals, people, and the environment. The king of the line is a lug-soled desert boot in cotton gabardine and vegan leather interpreted with a fun and wild spirit in a vibrant palette of Californian sunset hues, black, silver and neutrals. From safe to bold to provocative, the wide-spanning embroidered motifs veer from stylized florals to cactuses and palm trees, from artsy tie-dyes to weed and granny’s crocheted blankets. An untiring globetrotter who constantly shuttles between Los Angeles, Milan and London, Bernard is passionate about the Nineties grunge movement, which swept over the U.S and Europe with its loose silhouettes, mismatched layering and heavy-duty footwear. Dawni highlights the shoe that best characterizes this period and subculture – the combat boot. Bernard, whose versatile career ranges from serving as a buyer for Russian department store Tsum to handling content and trend research for Anna Dello Russo to the web art direction of top luxury retailer Antonia, graduated from the IED design school in Milan and studied at the London College of Fashion where she has a degree in Buying and Merchandising.