Job is a labour of love for shoe designer Diane (From Cotswold Journal)

Job is a labour of love for shoe designer Diane

A MICKLETON shoe designer is joining forces with one of the oldest bridal shoemakers in the country - Rainbow Club.

Diane Hassall who learned her craft from the likes of Jimmy Choo and Emma Hope, will be unleashing her creative talent on the new Rainbow Club's Gabriella & Lucido and Else collections.

The 41-year-old designer studied at the University of Central England in Birmingham and obtained a fashion and textiles degree, specialising in embroidery in 1987.

While studying Diane, a mother-of-one from High Street, Mickleton, won a place on the graduate enterprise program at The Cranfield School of Management in Bedfordshire.

Diane said: "I love shoes, bags and accessories. I am a total shoe lover and while I was working with Jimmy Choo I was fortunate enough to have several pairs of shoes especially made for me. Fellow shoe lovers are the type of people I'm appealing to with my range."

One of Diane's goals will be to drive the three brands Rainbow Club, Gabriella & Lucido and Else collections towards high fashion. As part of the big name signing, a new range based on the avant-guard Diane Hassall brand will be introduced to the group with new styles expected to retail in the £150 to £200 price range.

"I am excited about the range. We're using lots of different colours making our bridal shoes very different from the ordinary bridal shoe. Some shoes will come in pale pinks and oyster colours with delicate lacing and pretty trimmings. So when a girl looks at them she'll say `I've got to have them'. They will be very appealing."

Rainbow club managing director Richard Marsh said: "We've always had a healthy admiration for Diane's enthusiasm, focus and work and it's a credit to the group we have succeeded in attracting someone of her calibre.

"We consider Diane to be the UK's biggest name in bridal footwear and her appointment is a massive coup for the business. I fully understand how Alex Ferguson felt when he signed Wayne Rooney because she is the best you can get."

Diane's aim is introduce strong designer styling and to whip up an exciting original and distinctive feel and look for each of the brands.

When asked why Rainbow Club was such an attractive proposition to her, Diane said: "At a time when I needed a new creative challenge, Rainbow Club's like mindedness, forward-thinking approach and passion for wedding shoes were an irresistible draw. It's manufacturing capability, excellent reputation and high service levels provide the perfect base from which to grow. By giving me the opportunity to design my own range again with no creative limits a whole new box of goodies has been opened up to me!"

Diane will work alongside Roger Thick, Rainbow Club's technical manager with a free reign to design shoes and handbags with own creative stamp and artistic flair.

"The tiniest bead of piece of Russian folklore embroidery can make the most fantastic treatment, translating beautifully to the detail on a shoe."

The shoe designer has also produced a pair of shoes for the television and Emmerdale star Patsy Kensit.

Diane keeps a Pandora's box of cuttings, fabrics, materials and design books dating back to the 1800s. The contents of this box are soon to be unleashed and coupled with Diane's indepth understanding of the marketplace, complete with attention to detail and the determination to succeed, she is set to create a storm when Rainbow Club's 2007 collections are launched in Harrogate next September.