Welcome
The Footsoldiers Design Consultancy Ltd. is a design studio based in the heart of London.
We focus on delivering 360° innovative design solutions across various disciplines to
deliver the best possible product. We are an international company with an international
client base.
We focus on delivering 360° innovative design solutions across various disciplines to
deliver the best possible product. We are an international company with an international
client base.
About Us
The Footsoldiers Design Consultancy Ltd. is a design studio specialising in footwear.
Established in 2009 by two London-based designers, Hector Rubio and Tom Astrella.
Hector came from the factory-floor learning tradition shoemaking techniques, and Tom
from a Product Design background with technical expertise in precision mould making.
Having worked in the industry for many years, the pair have first-hand experience if the
entire footwear production process: research, trend analysis, sketches, renders, CAD's, all the
way through the development and production.
In late 2010, with a growing client base, The Footsoldiers relocated to a new studio space and
and expanded the team to include four new permanent team members.
Established in 2009 by two London-based designers, Hector Rubio and Tom Astrella.
Hector came from the factory-floor learning tradition shoemaking techniques, and Tom
from a Product Design background with technical expertise in precision mould making.
Having worked in the industry for many years, the pair have first-hand experience if the
entire footwear production process: research, trend analysis, sketches, renders, CAD's, all the
way through the development and production.
In late 2010, with a growing client base, The Footsoldiers relocated to a new studio space and
and expanded the team to include four new permanent team members.
The Team
Tom Astrella
Owner/Designer Hector Rubio
Owner/Designer Isabel De LaRoche
Designer Jawad Braye
Footwear Designer Rob Haddock
Jr. Footwear Designer Tom Matic
Jr. Footwear Designer
Back
Owner/Designer Hector Rubio
Owner/Designer Isabel De LaRoche
Designer Jawad Braye
Footwear Designer Rob Haddock
Jr. Footwear Designer Tom Matic
Jr. Footwear Designer
Hector Rubio
Owner/Designer
Owner/Designer
Back
Born into traditional footwear manufacture family in Spain.
At age 17 he moved to London to go to University, joining Cordwainers @ LCF, a Product Design and Development course specializing in footwear.
As part of the course he took a sandwich year and did work placements in Spain (Alicante) and the Far East (China), designing several collections for various companies and learning in depth the manufacturing process of both casual and sport shoes.
During his last year at Uni he landed a job working on the brand French Connection.
Ever since He’s worked for Ben Sherman, Te Casan and Puma as well as doing a few freelance projects in between.
In 2009, together with Tom Astrella, he founded The Footsoldiers re-locating to Shoreditch in East London.
As part of the course he took a sandwich year and did work placements in Spain (Alicante) and the Far East (China), designing several collections for various companies and learning in depth the manufacturing process of both casual and sport shoes.
During his last year at Uni he landed a job working on the brand French Connection.
Ever since He’s worked for Ben Sherman, Te Casan and Puma as well as doing a few freelance projects in between.
In 2009, together with Tom Astrella, he founded The Footsoldiers re-locating to Shoreditch in East London.
Isabel De LaRoche
Designer
Designer
Born in Colombia, London-based footwear accessories designer Isabel de La Roche moved to UK in 1999 to persue a career in Fashion.
Isabel began her footwear careerwith a degree in Footwear Design from Cordwainers. After graduating in 2004 she earned an internship at luxury British shoe designer Georgina Goodman, subsequently at Adele Clarke's Design Consultancy, and later designed alongside bespoke shoemaker Caroline Groves.
In 2006 she joined b Store Ltd. as a designer of men's and women's collections for cult label Swear and visionary label and boutique b Store. She was involved in doing collaborations with Fred Perry, Hummel, Topman and graffiti artist "Best One".
In 2009 Isabel embarked as a freelancer footwear designer and has consulted for Esteban Cortazar in Paris and Caroline Groves once again.
In 2010 she began working with The Footsoldiers designing a variety of women's lifestyle and fashion footwear.
Isabel recently launched her own line of handbags under the "Isabel de La Roche".
Isabel began her footwear careerwith a degree in Footwear Design from Cordwainers. After graduating in 2004 she earned an internship at luxury British shoe designer Georgina Goodman, subsequently at Adele Clarke's Design Consultancy, and later designed alongside bespoke shoemaker Caroline Groves.
In 2006 she joined b Store Ltd. as a designer of men's and women's collections for cult label Swear and visionary label and boutique b Store. She was involved in doing collaborations with Fred Perry, Hummel, Topman and graffiti artist "Best One".
In 2009 Isabel embarked as a freelancer footwear designer and has consulted for Esteban Cortazar in Paris and Caroline Groves once again.
In 2010 she began working with The Footsoldiers designing a variety of women's lifestyle and fashion footwear.
Isabel recently launched her own line of handbags under the "Isabel de La Roche".
Rob Haddock
Jr. Footwear Designer
Jr. Footwear Designer
Back
Born in Blackpool, Lancashire, before moving to London to study footwear design at Cordwainers.
Rob has a grounded and full knowledge of classic footwear construction and design techniques. This, mixed with a true love for sports footwear, both old and new, aloows him to have a fresh outlookon all aspects of design.
Since joining The Footsoldiers in 2010 Rob has developed his skills in performance and lifestyle footwear.
Rob has a grounded and full knowledge of classic footwear construction and design techniques. This, mixed with a true love for sports footwear, both old and new, aloows him to have a fresh outlookon all aspects of design.
Since joining The Footsoldiers in 2010 Rob has developed his skills in performance and lifestyle footwear.
Tom Matic
Jr. Footwear Designer
Jr. Footwear Designer
Back
Born and raised in the UK Tom Matic studied Industrial Design, gaining knowledge of footwear, automotive, product, packaging, graphic and even furniture
Tom began at The Footsoldiers in 2011 as a Design intern and quickly progressed to become a full-time member of The Footsoldiers's team.
Tom began at The Footsoldiers in 2011 as a Design intern and quickly progressed to become a full-time member of The Footsoldiers's team.
Jawad Braye
Footwear Designer
Footwear Designer
Back
Born and raised in Kenya, Jawad moved to the UK in 1999 to pursue a career in Design.
While studying Footwear Design at Cordwainers in London, Jawad interned in Munich at K1X, a basketball lifestyle footwear brand.
After graduation, he joined Japanese denim brand Evisu in London and worked there for 3 years, designing and overseeing development of their footwear collections.
In 2009, Jawad moved to Paris to establish himself as a freelance designer, he has since worked for Feiyue, The Sartel Group.
Currently still based in Paris, Jawad is now a full-time member of The Footsoldiers's team.
While studying Footwear Design at Cordwainers in London, Jawad interned in Munich at K1X, a basketball lifestyle footwear brand.
After graduation, he joined Japanese denim brand Evisu in London and worked there for 3 years, designing and overseeing development of their footwear collections.
In 2009, Jawad moved to Paris to establish himself as a freelance designer, he has since worked for Feiyue, The Sartel Group.
Currently still based in Paris, Jawad is now a full-time member of The Footsoldiers's team.
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Contact Us
Find us on Google Maps
The Footsoldiers Design Consultancy Ltd.
2nd Floor
93A Rivington Street
Shoreditch
London
EC2A 3AY
info@thefootsoldiers.com
2nd Floor
93A Rivington Street
Shoreditch
London
EC2A 3AY
info@thefootsoldiers.com
Research
Knowing your market and your consumer are essential beginnings for any product.We can build comprehensive background infomation on direct market competitors, as well as creating unique inspirational imagery that helps to represent the drive and the direction of a product
Trend Analysis
Trends are important factors that can help certain designs become easily accepted by the customer.Keeping up to date with trends from sheet to fashion is one of our main priorities.
We are consistent people watchers, with an eye for emerging trends.
Design Stage 1: Sketching
The execution of any initial design idea usually begins with a sketch.With this basic format, we brainstorm ideas and experiment with shapes and forms.
Sketching can help the client direct the product, before more finalised versions of design are produced.
Design Stage 2: CAD
'Computer Aided Design is the next logical step, once the initial sketching phase is complete. The CAD stage allows colours and technical details to be included with relative ease.CAD also allows us to develop complex designs in the form of Blueprints. This data can then be used to create virtual 3D models, as well as physical maquettes.
Design Stage 3:
Renderings
'Renderings' are provided to give the client photorealistic representations of the final design proposals.
These are ideal in helping the client visualise the final design.
Renderings can also be very useful for generating life-like conceptual ideas or other 'blue-sky' potentials.
Brand Identity/
Graphic Stories
Whether it be a logo, or an entire graphic story with an astract and repeated patterns, we are fully versed in Photoshop and Illustrator and have the skills to produce anything that is required.
Packaging Design
We believe the best way to avoid disconnect between the design language of the product and the packaging, is to use the same designers for both.We have designed a number of types of packaging for our clients, and pride ourselves with being able to tell a consistent story through this medium.
Image property of www.shoesmaster.jp
Product Development
The product development process is arguably as important as the design, as it is during this process that the product finally comes to life.Whether it be simply colour and material selection or the full product development process, we pride ourselves in being able to develop, colour and 'spec' our designs to the highest possible standards.
Image property of www.shoesmaster.jp
Production
Good production is the key. Market perception of a brand can be made or destroyed in this final hurddle.We have numerous contacts with many types of supplier.
From footwear factories or injection moulders across Asia or Europe, we have the resources to assist almost anybody.
POS:
Design & Execution
Point of Sales displays provide a unique tool to help sales and marketing teams promote new products.We can, and have, project managed the design and production of various types of display, which are purpose built for shops, showrooms and even large tradeshows.
