BALLY Carl Franz (Shoe designer)

The continuity of fashion is illustrated by two examples of Bally's "Mary Jane" shoes, separated by fifty years: the delicacy of red suede, gold leather trim and diamond button was replaced by serviceable leather for the 1990s. Carl Franz Bally decided to mass-produce high-quality footwear after falling in love with a pair of shoes he found for his wife in Paris. The son of a silk ribbon weaver, Franz had taken over the family business, expanding the company to include an elastic tape that was used by shoemakers. While visiting one of his clients in Paris, he saw the inspirational shoes and bought the entire stock, and began manufacturing his own shoe collections in his factory. Today the house of Bally remains a classic one, albeit expanded into a global company. Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz, creative directors since 2010, maintain the traditional craftsmanship and Swiss luxury heritage that the brand was founded on. 

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