WHO: MARY-KYRI PALLARAS
WHAT: SHOE DESIGNER
WHERE: ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
VISIT: www.mary-kyri.com
FFF LOVES… that she has turned an obsession into a living. Long live shoes!
What are your staples?
Garlic, cracked pepper, olive oil.
What are you indulgences?
Swiss Chocolate.
What can’t you live without?
Tomatoes, cracked pepper, salad ingredients, vegetables, aubergine.
What is past its use-by-date?
Nothing, I always disgard anything past its due date.
What is your pantry craving?
More junk food. All the junk we ate as kids — Quik, Milo, potato chips.
About Mary-Kyri:
The Mary-Kyri story began with her childhood fascination for high-heeled shoes. As a girl she was obsessed with her mother’s collection and often dressed up in oversized heels and way too much make-up to perform for the family. Her teenage passion grew to an addiction for designer label stilettos and an overdrawn monthly credit card! It was during these years, that she set her sights on becoming Australia’s own version of Manolo Blahnik.
Mary-Kyri says, “From the very beginning, stilettos have always been my absolute passion. I love the way a pair of stilettos can change a woman’s demeanour and elongate her physique. My shoes are made for elegant, sophisticated, passionate and flamboyant women who are not afraid to express their individuality. My designs are not about a woman’s age, they are the essence of what characterises a woman.” Mary-Kyri completed a Diploma in Fashion Design, Clothing and Textiles at the Marleston Design Institute in South Australia in 2003. On completion of the Diploma, she was employed in a number of design roles within the fashion industry, however shoes were her passion. Late 2005, Mary-Kyri boldly set her sights on creating her first shoe collection. On impulse she sold her car and purchased a return ticket to Italy to fulfil this dream. Once there, she secured a meeting with one of Italy’s most prestigious manufacturers who create footwear for Fendi, Guiseppe Zanotti and Vicini. Mary-Kyri then worked in the factory, learning every aspect of high fashion shoe manufacture and began to design her first collection. In March 06 Mary-Kyri’s dream was realised and her first collection ‘Virago’ was released in Australia and New Zealand. Mary-Kyri has developed a reputation for producing beautiful, unique, high fashion stilettos that are also extremely comfortable. In Australia, Ireland, UK, America and Paris, her designs are stocked in prestigious boutiques and department stores alongside Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Versace and Guiseppe Zanotti. They have featured in International and Australian top fashion magazines including; Vogue UK and Australia, Instyle, Cosmopolitan UK and Australia, Harpers Bazaar Australia, Black and White, Grazia UK and Australia, Ultimate Accessories Guide NY, Collezioni Italia, Italia Bride, OK UK, Monocle Magazine,Curve and Who Weekly. She also has celebrities clamouring for a pair of heels including Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Moss, Jade Jagger, Pink, Fergie, Dannii Minogue, Kylie Minogue, Cheryl Cole, Paris and Nikky Hilton, Megan Gale and Kim Kardashian. Australia’s premier designers Sass & Bide used Mary-Kyri shoes for Melbourne Fashion Festival 2007. To compliment the stilettos Mary-Kyri developed a high fashion women’s sneaker line called Mary-Kyri Sportz. The collection of high fashion sneakers interact with the main shoe line being made from the same leathers and display similar design lines, creating the total concept. As an additional feature, the sneakers have a removable 4cm inbuilt insole for added comfort and height. Mary-Kyri has also recently created a diversion line of high quality, unique fashionable women’s shoes made entirely in Brazil. The collection is called MK By Mary-Kyri. Mary-Kyri is a passionate and dynamic business woman who has been profiled in many long-lead magazines and newspapers, also speaking at a number of business seminars. Mary-Kyri appears as a judge and supplies all shoes to Australia’s Next Top Model, also making many appearances on TV shows such as Mornings with Kerry Ann, Sunrise, The Today Show, A Current Affair, Runway to LA and many more. An incredible achievement for a business that only began three years ago. Mary-Kyri now has her sights on expanding throughout the world market, receiving amazing opportunities to display the new Solaz Winter 09/10 Collection of shoes ‘MARY-KYRI’, MK By Mary-Kyri and sneakers ‘MARY-KYRI SPORTZ’ in some of the world’ s most recognised showrooms and exhibitions.