RINALDI , The country's first designer accessories label celebrates ten years.

Rinaldi turns ten this year. India's first designer accessories lable has since become synonymous for its avante garde designs in footwear and accessories. Started in 1998 by Rina Shah (fresh out of FIT, New York), Rinaldi has grown manifold with a presence across the globe and India. Pls let me know if you would like to do a story with Rina Shah, the founder of Rinaldi who has moved back to India after five years in New York from where she ran her footwear empire with elan!!

Rinaldi, India's first designer accessories label launched by Rina Shah turns Ten this December. Rinaldi was started by Rina (at age 25) when the design revolution in India bought in its purview only heavy bridalwear and saris. Rinaldi being an Accessories Only label started a revolution of sorts with its avante garde designs for footwear and handbags. After Rinaldi, many have followed suit. Rina Shah strongly believes in non-violence and non-cruelty to animals and has been a PETA award-winner for manufacturing creative designs while using non-leather and non-wool products. Rinaldi is the ONLY designer label in India that promotes animal friendly, cruelty free fashion by using mock leather in all their designs. After the tremendously successful launch of Rinaldi, Rina moved to New York where she lived for five years and continued to run her business in India. While in New York, Rina started her own store there and also expanded her business to include supplying accessories to the leading fashion stores of USA. The label too evolved to reflect international design trends aesthetically blended with Rina's signature style.

Over the last ten years, Rinaldi has become synonymous with its funky eclectic style of footwear including boots, flats, ballerina slip ons and customized bridalwear. Her bags and totes always make an individualistic style statement. Besides the Rinaldi flagship store at Colaba (also opening soon at Bandra, Mumbai), Rina Shahs designs are also available at Kimaya, Samsaara, AZA MEN in Mumbai; Kimaya in New Delhi, 85 Lands down in Kolkatta, Shimmer in Bangalore, Rudraksh and IRIS in Pune. Rina Shah now proudly launches her "anniversary" collection "Angel", a line of footwear for young girls (between 3years and 13 years) "Angel is a range that boasts of a vast variety of styles for young girls. From my experience, there aren't too many footwear options for children in India. "Angel" is stylish and yet celebrates the vibrant innocence of young girls", says Rina Shah.

Angel comprises pretty sandals, peeptoes, fur lined boots, cute ballerinas and comfortable flats and even formal slip ons for girls, ideal for all occasions and season. Fun colours, bold embellishments and prints in styles that are oh so charming and yet versatile with each pair from the "Angles" collection being supremely comfortable and superbly finished. Rinaldi will also undertake orders to custom design footwear for girls. Rina works with only the best leather look-alikes (and not leather with Rina being a firm believer in non-cruelty to animals) imported from Europe. Each pair is personally designed by Rina and handcut and crafted by her team to make a pair that is a beautiful blend of style, workmanship, comfort and practicality. A combination very rare to find when it comes to footwear for children!!