fashion

BEHIND THE DESIGN: RIVER ISLAND X TERRY DE HAVILLAND

Feel the heat in an instant with the first ever clothing line by legendary shoe designers Terry de Havilland. Known for their dance floor-ready platforms loved by celebrities and icons of the party scene, their debut clothing collaboration is your fast-track ticket to holiday chic.

To celebrate one of the hottest collaborations of the summer, we sat down with the team behind the collection to talk inspiration, evolution and what it really takes to design the perfect shoe.

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This is your first ever clothing line: how does it feel to expand in this way?

It’s our first ever clothing line and we’re very excited to bring our vision to life by creating a complete look. We’ve never seen our shoes as just an accessory; however, it’s usual for people to style their shoes last when putting together an outfit. By drawing colour and material inspiration from the shoes and carrying it through to the clothing, we’re able to create a truly cohesive vision.

What was it like working with River Island?

A joy! The design team really understood our brand and its long history and were able to translate that into a collection that honours our heritage while feeling just as relevant today as it did when the brand first launched in the 70s.

How did the creative process differ when translating your designs from footwear into clothing?

In the past, we’ve collaborated with many artists, incorporating their prints into our shoes. Being able to draw on the brand’s own inspiration to create original prints is incredibly exciting. For the first time, we really felt that our brand’s personality was complete from head to toe.

What was on your mood board when creating this collection?

A high-summer island vibe. All the shades of the beach and the ocean to long sunset parties. The perfect summer. Style that looks effortless but is ready to go out in.

How do you want people to feel when they wear these pieces?

Hot! To imagine those blue skies and clear oceans. The heat of the sun. The first cocktail of the day; everything that can make you happy.

What’s your favourite piece from the collection and why?

Love the swirl-print cover ups. They have a real 70s feel but in punchy summer colours.

Your shoes have always had a sense of escapism. Does this ready-to-wear collection carry the same spirit?

Of course! We always try to make shoes that evoke emotion, and just looking at the line creates a real sense of positivity.

Who is the Terry de Havilland woman today? Has she evolved from the original muse?

She’s still bold, expressive and unapologetically herself. The original muse was out every night – dancing, taking up space, not dressing for anyone but herself – and that energy still runs through everything we do. Today, she might look a little different. She’s busy, she’s ambitious, she’s moving between worlds – work, social, travel – but she still wants that same sense of impact when she steps into a room. She’s not saving her best shoes for “occasions” anymore, she’s wearing them on her own terms. There’s also a confidence now that feels more self-defined. It’s less about dressing for a scene and more about expressing identity. She knows what she likes, she understands her style and she’s not afraid of standing out. So yes, she’s evolved with the times but at her core, she’s still the same woman Terry designed for: independent, magnetic and always just a little bit rebellious.

Terry de Havilland has such a rich legacy. How do you honour that heritage while still pushing the brand forward?

For us, honouring Terry’s heritage means staying true to the spirit of what he created: bold silhouettes, unapologetic glamour and a sense of freedom in how women dress. Those platform shapes – that energy, that attitude – are part of our DNA, and they always will be. But pushing the brand forward is about reinterpreting that through a modern lens. New materials, updated colour palettes, a sharper understanding of how women live and dress today. It’s less about repeating the past and more about evolving it, taking those iconic references and making them feel relevant now. Terry was always about breaking rules and doing things differently, so in many ways, continuing to innovate is actually the most authentic way we can honour him.

What is the secret to the perfect shoe?

The perfect shoe starts with silhouette. It has to have presence – that instant, almost emotional reaction when you first see it. Then comes proportion: how the heel sits, the pitch, the line of the arch – those small details that completely change how a shoe feels on the body. But it’s nothing without comfort. We spend a lot of time refining the fit and balance so that even our highest platforms feel surprisingly effortless. And then there’s attitude. A Terry de Havilland shoe should make you stand differently, feel differently – it should give you confidence the second you put it on.

How important is comfort and the ability to dance in great shoes?

A great shoe should look incredible, but it also needs to move with you, carry you through a night, and still feel good at the end of it. If you can’t dance in it, we don’t think it’s doing its job properly.

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