Jean-Michel Cazabat

Jean-Michel Cazabat (born May 18, 1959, in Bordères-sur-l'Echez) is a French shoe designer.

His shoes have been worn by celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Kristen Stewart, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kourtney Kardashian, Lenny Kravitz, and others.

Cazabat was born May 18, 1959, in Bordères-sur-l'Echez, France.

In his early age, he studied at the Orthez School of Photography and later the ECPA (Cinematographic and Photographic Establishment of the Army) during military service.

At 17, he covered rugby matches and concerts in the Southwest region of France as a correspondent for La Dépêche du Midi and La Nouvelle République des Pyrénées.

As a freelance photographer, he moved to Paris where he worked for Vogue, L'Officiel, and Le Figaro Magazine.

Originally focused on the women's shoe segment, Cazabat launched his men's line a few years later, inspired by the 1960s and the codes of rock'n'roll.

Cazabat's women's and men's collections were stocked by high-end retailers worldwide, including Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop, Maxfield L.A and Neiman Marcus.

His career began in the 1980s alongside Charles Jourdan and Stéphane Kélian.

Cazabat has began his design career in the 1980s when he became a buyer and store manager for Charles Jourdan in 1980.

In 1985, he moved to New York where he was appointed by Stéphane Kélian, as the director of the American market.

Ten years later, still based in New York, Cazabat reconnected with Charles Jourdan, and was appointed creative director of the brand.

Cazabat eventually launched his eponymous brand in 2000 in New York.

In 2000, Cazabat established his eponymous brand in New York, departing from his prior associations with fashion houses.

In 2008, he partnered with the Max Oriental group to expand his business.

The brand, based in New-York, produced its models in Italy, in the region of the Riviera del Brenta, and operated internationally.

In 2011, he joined the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and opened his first boutiques in New York and a shop-in-shop in Shanghai, China.

In 2019, Cazabat became the co-founder of Aera, a vegan shoe brand, with Tina Bhojwani and Alvertos Revach.

The brand focused on sustainable fashion and worked with organizations such as the Green Trees Reforestation Project, BEF Water Restoration Certificates, and Social Plastic Collection Credits, putting a strong focus on sustainability and the transparency of the manufacturing processes.

In 2020, after living 30 years in New York, Jean-Michel Cazabat decided to return to France and focus on craftsmanship and eco-design to prepare the re-launch of his brand.

Jean-Michel Cazabat's creations stood out with bold lines and provocative details.

Jean-Michel Cazabat's designs are distinguished by strong lines, distinctive details, and a rock 'n' roll attitude.

The juxtaposition of colors, the craftsmanship applied to the product, and the selection of  materials and rich details have positioned Jean-Michel Cazabat as a pop couture brand worn by individuals in the music industry globally.

Among the signature details of his creations are exotic prints, metallic finishes, ornaments, laminated and glittery details, and textural work such as braiding, piping, straps, or stitching.