When you meet Dylan van Zyl, you discover the story of a designer who has dedicated almost twenty years to footwear. Today, as Shoe Design Manager at Bata, he leads collections across three of the company’s brands, balancing creativity, market needs, and the heritage of a global name with over 130 years of history.
Recently, thanks to a scholarship awarded by SAFLEC (South African Footwear & Leather Export Council), Dylan joined Arsutoria School’s Shoe Collection Development course in Milan. In this conversation, he shares his journey, his reflections on the program, and what it means for him moving forward.
Can you briefly tell us about your journey as a designer and your current role at Bata?
I have held diverse design roles throughout my career spanning nearly two decades, with a significant tenure at Bata since 2010. During this time, I have worked in various capacities including Product Developer, Designer, and currently, Shoe Design Manager. In my current role, I lead the design and development of collections and products for three of Bata’s brands.
In your daily work, how do you balance creativity, market demands, and brand identity?
Bata is a company with a rich legacy spanning over 130 years. The brand I work on was originally developed in the 1960s and 1980s, and I draw on this heritage to inform my design approach. While honoring the brand’s history, I maintain a strong focus on customer needs and the functional aspects of footwear. I also actively monitor international markets to stay current with global trends and the latest advancements in technology.
Congrats for being awarded by SAFLEC with a scholarship for our Shoe Collection Development course; on this regard, which aspects of this educational experience have enriched you the most in terms of vision or design approach?
Many thanks to Saflec, the ILO, and Arsutoria for making this opportunity possible — truly a dream come true. The course offered a well-structured and methodical approach to creating a footwear collection. One of the key takeaways was the ability to translate curated high-fashion trends into commercially viable products.
The emphasis on understanding both the customer and the materials greatly enhanced my insight into product requirements. The course also reaffirmed and strengthened my own design process as a seasoned professional.
Was there a moment during the course when you looked at your work from a new or unexpected perspective?
Absolutely. The presence and success of brands in the retail space are never by coincidence—they are the result of thoughtful curation and meticulous conceptualization by both design and marketing teams. In the fashion industry, trends play a central role, driving creativity and shaping every aspect of the product journey.
Looking ahead, what do you think you will take away from this experience at Arsutoria — both as a professional and as a person?
I’ll leave you with this: Dream big and approach everything with intention to achieve your desired outcome.
If you want to follow in Dylan’s footsteps, explore our Shoe Collection Development course: a unique program that combines branding, marketing analysis, and design to transform fashion trends into commercially successful footwear collections — an ideal choice if you’re wondering how to create my own brand in the footwear industry.
For those looking for a more comprehensive journey, Arsutoria School also offers the Shoe Design Path — a complete program where you’ll learn to design shoes by hand and digitally, develop 3D models, and create entire collections guided by market insights and storytelling.