Photo: Alejandro Ingelmo

Ever wonder what a designer does all day? Here’s a play by play with our first candidate, Alejandro Ingelmo.

9AM I come into the store at 51 Wooster Street, in Soho, where my office is located in the back. The store opened in September last year and was inspired by my Grandfather’s own shoe store in Cuba. I have black and white photos of his factory hung in my work space with mid-century furniture and my black and gold shoe boxes lining the walls.

10AM I continue sketching and working on my SS12 collection. I just returned yesterday from Italy where I worked with one of my factories and shopped for new leathers and hardware. I was really inspired by a new technique that was embossed on leathers, I am having the tannery try to use the technique on some metallic colors for me.

1PM I meet with the videographer who is shooting a video for our new e-commerce website launching in June. We went over the final details before we begin to shoot next week.
A peek inside Ingelmo's store. Photo: Alejandro Ingelmo

2PM I rush up to Chris Benz’s studio to go over fabrics and inspiration for our resort collaboration. Chris and I meet several times throughout the season, first to go over inspiration, then designs, materials, then we do the corrections on the prototypes. We started collaborating for SS2011.

4PM I come back down to the store and there are quite a few customers shopping, so I help one of the clients to buy a Thriller sandal. She said it was the most comfortable shoe she had ever walked in.

Photo: Alejandro Ingelmo

6PM I take a walk to Bloomingdales in Soho to speak to the manager on the men’s shoe floor to see how my shoes are selling. The sales staff are great there and they have feedback that’s helpful to know as I’m designing the upcoming season. They’re noticing that their customer is gravitating toward the Wooster style; it’s a new category for me and the first time they have a style other than a sneaker on the floor so I am happy to see the positive reaction.

7PM I am leaving the office so I can get ready for dinner at my favorite restaurant in the hood, La Esquina with some friends.

11PM I am home and exhausted from my week of traveling. Feels so good to be home and in my own bed!