Ahead of the release, we sat down with Henry to discuss the inspiration, process, and expectations for the launch. What inspired SYRO to collaborate on a shoulder bag design alongside its footwear collection?
I was on 23rd Street in Manhattan years ago and saw an artsy middle-aged woman wearing a knee-high stiletto boot as a DIY backpack. From that moment on, I dreamed that when SYRO could finally be ready to develop its first bag, it would absolutely have to be in the form of a realistic shoe. The creative process made so much sense for us as shoe designers, and we are so excited by this design.
The stiletto has remained a charged symbol of sexuality, power, and femininity. How did the idea of merging a classic stiletto heel with an asymmetrical shoulder bag come about, and what makes it practical yet campy? Remarkably, our size stiletto boot is rather practical and can carry a lot. Who knew? In complement to classic black and brown colors, our silver bag is in continuation to the fact that SYRO has always been a silver brand.
The bag is described as a symbol of strength and resilience for the queer community. What specific design elements convey this message? For SYRO, our mm metal stiletto heel is not just an aesthetic choice but simultaneously a nod to the violence of the original stiletto knife. SYRO has always been a brand for queer femmes, and violence, unfortunately, coexists alongside the beauty in our community. We continue to face cultural, political, and physical violence as we live our lives, shine our light, and advocate for equality.
How do you see do you see this resonating with those who wear the bag? One heroic patron, Richard M. Fierro, tackled the shooter and put a stop to the damage. He described pummeling the shooter with his fists and yelling at a fleeing trans performer to kick the shooter in the face with her high heels. This horrifying scene has stuck with us through all of Queer people face enormous adversity in this world and we unfortunately are often called to fight for our own protection.
