SIMON DESROCHERS
HEART & SOLE SHOES PASSIONATE ABOUT SHOES
Left to right: Danica Wilcox, Freni Waidelich, Keith Gage-Cole and Carolina Lopez-Urbina, the friendly and knowledgeable staff of Heart & Sole Shoes. Hats and fascinators by Tierre Taylor millinery.
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ICTORIA IS PASSIONATE about shoes, and one of the city’s most passionate proponents of high-quality footwear is the team at Heart & Sole Shoes, which recently relocated to 1023 Fort Street in the vibrant Mosaic Village. Behind a neo-Tudor and lipstick-red façade, Heart & Sole’s interior is filled with sunlight, charm and stylish hand-picked footwear from exciting brands like Chanii.B, Camper, Miz Mooz, Red Wing Heritage and John Fluevog, and eco-friendly lines like El Naturalista. You’ll also find unique bags, artful accessories and Victoria’s largest selection of legwear. What differentiates Heart & Sole is its focus on creating a special experience for each customer, with custom fittings and shoe alterations, and even personal wardrobe consultations to help you look and feel your best. “Our products represent a connection between our love for what we do and the need for something unique that speaks to you,” says store manager Freni Waidelich. ”Every single sock and shoe has a purpose and means something to us. We’re not interested in fast fashion and disposable
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trends — we value items which can be treasured in your closet for a long time.” Everyone at Heart & Sole has a deep love of their profession, beginning with owner Keith Gage-Cole, a legendary leather worker who launched Heart & Sole in 2008 as a leather-smith workshop featuring handcrafted leather goods. Since then, Heart & Sole has evolved and expanded with the help of Freni, who has 15 years of retail shoe experience and over 10 years of industry expertise in buying, managing and marketing footwear. The Heart & Sole team also includes assistant manager Carolina who specializes in shoe alterations and repair, learning her profession from Italian cobblers and at iconic local bootmakers Viberg. Danica, the newest team member, has over 24 years of retail experience and will be assisting in customer service, creative displays and wardrobe consulting. With Heart & Sole settled in its fabulous new location, look for more exciting women’s footwear and an even bigger focus on stylish socks and shoes for men who are increasingly fashion conscience. And watch for special events, including “Meet the Designer” salons.
“WE’VE CREATED A WARM ATMOSPHERE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT IN OUR EXPERTISE AND LOVE FOR WHAT WE DO, AS WELL AS GETTING A UNIQUE, DURABLE PRODUCT.” — FRENI WAIDELICH, STORE MANAGER
1023 Fort Street, Victoria 250.920.7653 heartandsoleshoes.ca