What you should know about... ABO SHOES
ABO is a Serbian brand based in Belgrade, founded in 2013 by two sisters: Iva and Ana Ljubinkovic. Their ultimate goal was to put the fun back into footwear, create shoes that are at the same time elegant, stylish and comfortable – handmade leather shoes with a unique twist. Playing with the conventional and traditional styles by adding an array of colours, textures, prints and details, ABO shoes are designed to fulfill the demands of a contemporary woman and her lifestyle. Their motto is “quality over quantity”. They love authenticity and diversity. Each pair is handmade in limited series in timeless and versatile designs. Approaching each pair of these handmade leather shoes as a work of art, combining creativity with exceptional comfort, resulted in a unique touch that built ABO’s reputation as Belgrade’s most popular footwear label.
A little more about the two designers. Iva started as an architect student who obtained a Master degree in this field. Ana, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Belgrade, with a major in painting. She always thought her sister has a talent for proportion and shape which are important skills to have when creating shoes. Iva has used her architectural background to get into the footwear. For these two sisters: when good ideas come there is always a need to make a record of these even if the physical hasn’t materialised yet. This is why sketches are very important to them, as even the smallest thought can turn into a great product. It could be in the form of a recorded note, a written note, a sketch or technical drawing, a photo of something that has nothing to do with a shoe at first but could develop into something later.
ABO Shoes offers a limited number of styles that come in an unlimited combination of colours which is the approach they would like to keep to even as they grow. Speaking about their accomplishments, Iva revealed that ABO Shoes have original designs and a WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) certificate to prove it. They are inspired by fine art, music, science, literature and the universe itself. “In our times a true artist has to inspect oneself for inspiration if the main goal is original and quality,” Ana claimed.
To see more of their collection:
