From fashion and sportswear to the world of footwear: Victoria Downey’s journey shows how passion and education can turn curiosity into a true career path.
After studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and gaining experience in the apparel industry, she decided to follow her interest in shoes and embark on a new adventure with Faryl Robin. Thanks to Arsutoria School’s online Shoe Design course, she was able to deepen her skills and discover fresh creative perspectives.
Let’s get to know Victoria and discover her inspiring story.
Tell us about your background and how you discovered your passion for shoe design.
I started my career studying apparel design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. I completed my four year degree there with a specialization in sportswear. I have always had a love for and interest in footwear, so after a few years in the apparel industry, I decided to try something new. I started working for a women’s footwear company called Faryl Robin and had this wonderful opportunity to attend Arsutoria’s online Shoe Design course through this company. This course has helped fuel my passion for shoe design even more.
How has what you learned in the Shoe Design course enhanced your creative process when developing a new collection?
What I have learned in the course has broadened my knowledge of how to stay true to a brand and inspiration and create a collection with proper merchandising skills. It has enhanced my creative process by giving me a new perspective on the skills required to develop a new collection.
Victoria Downey shoe sketches
Which skills or knowledge from the course will support you in your role as Assistant Footwear Designer di Faryl Robin Footwear?
A deeper understanding of AI softwares to render sketches or existing shoe images will help speed up my digital work at Faryl Robin. The general knowledge of shoe construction and merchandising a collection will also help my understanding of how to select designs to show to our clients.
Where do you see yourself in the coming years? What aspects of Shoe Design are you most excited to keep exploring?
I see myself continuing to improve my skills and moving up in my role as a designer in the industry. I may even strive to have my own brand someday. I’m most excited to keep pushing the boundaries in my designs, finding inspiration in life’s beauty, and expanding more on the rendering skills that I have learned through this course.
Her experience with Arsutoria School was not only a professional enrichment but also a motivational boost to look to the future with ambition. With a stronger design vision and the tools to approach footwear collections with confidence, Victoria now looks ahead with the desire to grow as a designer, continue exploring new possibilities, and one day achieve her dream of launching her own footwear brand.