PROFILE
Interview with Mónica García.
Mónica García started up her own business, Chocolate Rosa, in 2001 while on an MA course at Madrid’s European Design Institute. The young footwear designer from Asturias had previously studied History of Art in Oviedo and followed a number of summer courses at the prestigious Saint Martins School of Design in London. Her original designs were soon selling in alternative circles in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Tokyo.
Monica García’s philosophy is to create unconventional footwear. She specialises in extra-flat ballet pumps in unusual designs made from materials not often seen in the world of footwear. Felt flowers, rosettes, frost glitter, velvet trim and tulle posies are some of her favourites. She has now extended her product line to include accessories, with bags to match her shoes.
In 2003, she opened her first shop in Madrid, “Las Bailarinas”, a small, cave-shaped boutique in the heart of the Spanish capital’s hip Chueca district. Her products are sold in Sweden, Italy, France, Japan, Portugal and the UK. In the US, they are available from the cutting-edge shop American Rag in Los Angeles and San Francisco).
