The Finnish-born shoemaker Achilles Ion Gabriel launched his eponymous brand in 2012 and it is clear from the artisanal qualities inherent to his work just why he considers himself a shoe-maker rather than simply a shoe designer. Gabriel splits his time between Paris and Menorca, where each pair of shoes is manufactured in close collaboration with a local tanner. The soles and hardware are crafted entirely by hand. Drawing on the diverse heritage of his Finnish, Swedish and Russian roots, Gabriel’s footwear has a strong architectural feel, in part influenced also by his mother’s work as a graveyard sculptor ln-cc.com
