about

Never before has being so eco-friendly been so stylish. Thanks to Cri de Coeur, a line of top-quality vegan shoes, ladies around the globe can create eco-luxe looks in no time flat. Pairing deftly with everything from cocktail dresses to skinny jeans, Cri de Coeur shoes embody effortless chic.

Founded in 2007 by Gina Ferraraccio, the collection channels everyday wearable looks with modern sophistication. Every pair is handmade with a meticulous attention to detail and an eye for design. Rich color combinations, supple vegan materials and seductive yet comfortable heel shapes are marks of the brand. Whether you’re headed for a girls’ night out, a boardroom meeting or a pulse-raising date, Cri de Coeur shoes will fit the bill.

Cri de Coeur is a French expression that translates literally to “cry from the heart.” To us, it symbolizes our heartfelt desire to change the face of the fashion footwear market. Cri de Coeur provides stylish, contemporary women’s footwear that is ethically produced from start to finish.

THE DESIGNERS

Gina Ferraraccio

Growing up in Tennessee, Gina always knew she wanted to do something where she could make a difference in the world for both the style-conscious and the animals. Passionate about fashion since a young age, shoes especially always had a special place in her heart; yet as a vegetarian, she would always feel an internal conflict when shopping and handing over payment for yet another gorgeous pair of leather shoes. This led to NYC and Parsons School of Design, where she finally found her calling. While earning a BBA in Design Management, Gina learned everything she could about the back- end business side of the fashion industry, as well as footwear design. After interning at the likes of Anna Sui and Bergdorf Goodman, she worked for 5 years in the private label lingerie industry and gained invaluable real-world fashion and business experience, before striking out on her own with Cri de Coeur in 2008. Press and buyers from around the world heralded the debut collection, and the brand has since established itself as the pioneering stylish, vegan accessories company.

Julie Dicterow

Julie has been involved with the creative arts for all of her adult life. After completing her Bachelors Degree at UCLA in 2003, she co-founded Big Mouse, an eco-friendly t-shirt and accessory design company. Being a vegetarian and environmentalist for years, Julie wanted to be a part of the new green movement that would meet high-end fashion expectations. Therefore, in 2008, Julie Dicterow attended Parsons New School of Design in New York City. While acquiring certification in Fashion Design, she studied under haute couture designer Lucie Porges of Trigere and challenged her mentors and colleagues to discuss greener and more humane avenues of the design process. In 2009, Julie met Cri de Coeur designer, Gina Ferraraccio. After working only a few months with the company, she realized that she and Gina had similar aesthetics and ideals about fashion design, and so they partnered together in order to expand the business.

All photography by Eric Ahlquist.