PARIS, Nov 29, 2010 / — Her first name sounds joyful and determined, like a pair of stilettos in the family firm. Ines Olympe Mercadal was born to a family of shoemakers; hence it is not surprising that she will decide to design her own line when she came of age.

This shoe story actually began in 1950, when Antoine Mercadal left Franco’s Spain and moved to France. A third generation shoemaker from Menorca, Antoine Mercadal easily found a job working for the largest French shoes manufacturer.

In the early 1980s, Antoine Mercadal launched his own label, naming it “Laurent Mercadal”, after his only son. A tremendous success thanks to the beautiful leather workmanship and rich colors, Lawrence Mercadal also introduced python, lizards and crocodiles in its collections.

In 1995, Marie-Laure Mercadal, the mother of Ines Olympe launched the “Atelier Mercadal”, adding to the line of Mercadal shoes that have become highly covetable by fashionistas.

In 2010, when Ines Olympe is 23, it was her turn to add to the family business. Along the lines of “Atelier Mercadal”, she launched “Atelier Mercadal Vintage,” a collection of shoes that draws on the legacy of five generations of shoemakers.

In “Atelier Mercadal Vintage” you will find the updated version of “Elena”, Antoine Mercadal’s tapered 7 cm stiletto heel where the color and materials play a major role.

Initially offering 5 models, the Atelier Mercadal Vintage is both classic and fashion forward at the same time.

Photo by Julien Webber