Studio Visit: LD Tuttle
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Studio Visit: LD Tuttle
February 16, 2016

A long-time admirer of her work, I was connected to Tiffany Tuttle through mutual friends. Now in its eighth season, LD Tuttle is a footwear collection founded by Tiffany and her husband and business partner, Richard Lidinsky. And the shoes they create: incredibly modern yet classic, clean yet edgy, and all the while impeccably crafted.
Tiffany was kind enough to open the doors of her studio to us, and share a bit about the creative space and process. I hope you enjoy this look inside. XXJKE
R+T: Can you share a bit about your journey in the world of fashion and how it lead you to footwear?
I was a ballet dancer and danced professionally for a couple of years. After that I went to college and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I studied European History with a focus on art history. When I graduated, I decided to go to FIT for fashion design. I worked in clothing for a few years, but after being exposed to shoe design, I decided I wanted to focus on footwear. I attended a school in Milan for footwear design which taught me all about the craft of shoemaking.
As a shoe designer, in a way it feels like I have come back to my life as a dancer. I spent so much time focusing on feet and legs and how they were a part of movement and now I am essentially doing the same thing but with a different end result.
R+T: What are some of your design influences?
The shape of the foot and the movement of a person are the underlying influences of my designs. They are a part of every shoe that I create. However, every season, I do have other influences that layer on top of that. Often, it will start from a book that I have been reading. I just finished The Land Breakers by John Ehle; the struggle of man versus a sentient nature is part of the starting point for AW15. I also look at art and dance and I am continually inspired by Los Angeles and the areas around it.
R+T: How would you describe your aesthetic?
LD Tuttle shoes have a rawness that is held in by clean, modern silhouettes – they grow from traditional, utilitarian shapes and morph into unique forms and proportions.
R+T: Tell us about your studio space… How did you find it? What drew you to it? And what impact does it have on your work?
We found the space 5 years ago. A friend that is in the adjoining studio was driving around downtown and called me. We wanted to move down to the Arts District and the minute I saw it, I fell in love with the space. I liked that it was bare and undone – a bit like the feeling of my shoes. I love the neighborhood, which for me has the best of LA – wide empty streets, big warehouses and unexpected moments of beauty like the 4th street bridge.
I love having space to think. The high ceilings and bare brick walls allow me to feel free and open. Having a place to sit outdoors is also a huge plus since the weather is so nice here. We sit out there for lunch or sometimes I work out there to clear my head.
R+T: How would you describe the atmosphere in your studio?
It is pretty relaxed and easygoing since it is one big open space. There are a number of other creative businesses in the building – people are always dropping by to talk or hang out. We walk to lunch together, which has gotten a lot better recently – there are so many new restaurants that have opened in the area.
R+T: A well-designed studio is one that…
Allows you to have all of the things you need at your fingertips without feeling like they are crowding you so that you can’t think clearly. I have bins filled with old samples, leather swatches, leather dye, shoe glue – so many random things. But there is still enough openness when I look around, that I don’t feel bogged down by junk. It is a bit of a joke in the studio. I am always walking around trying to throw things out but often they are things that people really need!
R+T: Tell us about a typical day in the studio…
I am usually on the phone with the factories in Italy for the first hour or two. We usually Skype, so I am sitting at my computer. I then move on to the design work for the day, whether it is sketching, working on new lasts or heels or working with the leathers for the next season. We often walk to get lunch nearby and then eat in the studio or outside. I try to leave answering tedious emails until the very end of the day when I am worn out.
R+T: Top five workspace musts?
Good music – I signed up for Beats Music recently and am really enjoying it.
Hot water pot – I drink a lot of tea.
A good bookcase for my books and old magazines.
Dark chocolate for an afternoon pick me up.
And most importantly, light!
R+T: If you had to, could you pick a favorite shoe or collection?
It is hard to pick because I am always excited by what is in the upcoming collection, so it is often something that I can’t wear. When I finally get it to wear, I have moved on to the next season. I love the AW10 collection because many of the ideas I had been trying to express previously really came out then. It was the first time that I did The Drifter boot – the shoe that I still wear almost every day. I am on my third pair! I am also wearing The Moss a lot recently – a new sneaker design I’m excited about for resort.
R+T: What is the most rewarding part of your work?
There is always an exhilarating moment when you come up with an idea, whether it is a last, a heel or a new shoe and you know that it is going to be good. Whenever there is something particularly frustrating that happens, I remember that feeling of expressing an idea I have, or making a shape that feels really new.