Answering the Call
Telephone repairman turned designer Chris Donovan dials up unique style. By Greg Dutter
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HRIS DONOVAN HAD a burning desire to design footwear long before starting his 25-plus years of work as a telephone repairman. But it took a cancer scare— and encouragement from his spouse— for him to finally make the high-wire leap to do what he loves for a living. “I’ve had this design passion since high school, but it never seemed like a possible career for me, so I worked at the phone company,” Donovan says. To be specific, the Massachusetts native was sitting in humanities class during his junior year when a fellow student strutted in wearing sky-high platforms. This was the’70s, and the style was just coming into vogue. “They were the tallest, most outrageous shoes,” Donovan recalls. “I was fascinated. How is she walking in them, and how can an article of clothing be a piece of art?” He immediately set about trying to capture what he saw with a sketch in the margins of his notebook. “It was like someone set a fire in my head: If you can do this, then what else can you do with shoes,” he says. “Within days, my notebook was filling up with sketches—pushing all my humanities notes out! The flood gates had opened.” Thoughts of a design career, though, were put on hold—literally. First, Donovan hid his sketches, shielding himself from teasing classmates. His hobby remained secret during his years at Assumption College, where he earned a Religious Studies degree, and it stayed that way even after he landed the dependable telephone repairman gig. Donovan climbed ladders and crawled across floors, running wire and fiber optics. But he never stopped sketching shoes. “I never felt fulfilled in that job,” he says. Finally, he took his spouse’s advice to do what made him happiest. “After my cancer diagnosis, which was thankfully caught early, I realized how short life could be and that I needed to realize my dreams.” But before Donovan’s dream fulfillment phase—which includes receiving this year’s Fashion Group Intl. Rising Star award—there were obstacles to overcome. He submitted his sketches to the Polimoda Fashion School in Florence, Italy, and got accepted. But the Italian consulate said he was too old for a student visa. After he visited five times to plead his case, they relented. Next came the challenge of trying to fit in at the school. He had no design background aside from a few night courses, and “I didn’t look like the other students. I was mistaken as the janitor,” he says. “It was difficult to catch up with them, though I’m proud to say that I graduated top of my class.” Armed with a master’s degree in footwear design, Donovan had to overcome more hurdles to break into the industry. Again, age was a sticking point. “My school had advised me that it might be difficult finding work at my age, and they were right,” he says. “But I was determined for the world to see my designs,
Chris Donovan
so I started my own line [at age 55] in October of 2019.” Learning how to work as a designer was no easy feat. It was nothing like Donovan’s past experience. “In my previous job, I went to work at the same time every day, running through routines and repairs, and knowing them like the back of my hand,” he explains. “Now everything—absolutely everything—is new.” He works harder and longer than ever, but he finds it fun, fulfilling, and purposeful. “I’m exhausted at the end of every day, but I feel very accomplished.” And Donovan’s atypical background gives him an uncommon perspective. “Since I sketched for so many years on my own, drawing inspiration from my surroundings and not paying attention to the fashion industry, I’ve developed a unique voice,” he says. “I’m an outsider to fashion and see what I do as wearable art and sculpture. I’m always ready to try new things.” This approach has translated to an overall label aesthetic that’s “contemporary, infused with art, geometry, and unexpected influences.” It combines those elements into new classics that are functional and comfortable, Donovan explains. “Working with wiring, cables, electronics, and fiber optics left a lasting impression on me and provides a wealth of inspiration that I still draw on,” he says, citing shapes, folds, and sculptural heels as signature design elements. “I use texture and materials to add style and highlight the sculptural quality of the design. I like creating powerful designs that reflect the confidence and strength of the wearer.” Who is the Chris Donovan customer? She’s a strong, confident, proud woman who dresses for herself. She doesn’t have to fit in, is comfortable standing out, and, most importantly, is looking for a design that not everyone is wearing. What are some key aspects of your Spring ’24 collection? Sleek, minimal, aerodynamic shapes. Traditional styles but with a definite twist. It’s a continuation of last season’s inspiration of paper airplanes. I’m using simple area dynamic folds to create a sleek, modern contemporary feel.
38 footwearplusmagazine.com • july 2023
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