EP 6: From the Bronx to Luxury - The Art of Shoe Design with Jessica George

In this episode of Fashion Files with Karis Reneé, host Karis Reneé sits down with shoe designer Jessica George. The two discuss Jessica's inspiring journey from growing up in the Bronx with a seamstress grandmother to becoming an up-and-coming shoe designer. They delve into her design process, challenges faced in manufacturing, and her drive to inspire her children through her work. Jessica also showcases some of her stunning shoe designs and shares her future plans for her brand. Karis and Jessica bond over their shared love for heels and fashion, creating an engaging and inspiring conversation.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Announcement
01:10 Jessica George's Background and Upbringing
06:53 Journey into Shoe Design
10:32 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Shoe Manufacturing
16:35 Favorite Shoe Designers and Inspirations
20:13 DIY Shoe Designs and Inspirations
20:42 Fact or Cap: Shoe Edition
24:33 Current Projects and Future Plans
30:32 This or That: Shoe Edition
35:07 Style Spotlight and Wrap-Up

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Creators and Guests

Host

Karis Reneé

Fashion Loves All Minds & Egos 💕 Fashion Files podcast

What is Fashion Files?

Fashion Files is a captivating podcast hosted by Karis Reneé that delves into the glamorous world of fashion. Explore styling secrets, costume design insights, and red-carpet chronicles featuring both solo episodes and interviews with fashion industry experts. Each episode will inspire, entertain, and educate fashion enthusiasts.

06 Fasion Files - Jessica Gorge
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Karis Reneé: [00:00:00] Welcome back to Fashion Files with Caris Renee, I'm your host, Caris Renee, and I'm so happy to have you with us today. I am so excited about this episode today. This is another guest episode. Today we have my girl, Jessica George. I can't wait to introduce you guys to her and so that we can get to learn a little bit about.

Who she is, what her background is, and what she does in the industry. So welcome Jessica. How are you? I am doing well. Thanks for having me on the show. I appreciate it. Thanks for being here. I'm so excited. Okay, so let's jump right in and let's tell the people what it is that you do. I know a little bit, but I'm [00:01:00] super excited, as y'all know, y'all know I love to have organic conversations, so this is gonna be super organic.

I know a little bit, but I don't know a lot. So we're gonna learn together. So what is it that you do in the industry?

Jessica Gorge: So, I am a high heel shoe designer. It's, um, up and coming. So it's a startup business. Okay. Um, I started about 12 years ago with designing the shoes. Mm-Hmm. But my story begins way back when I grew up in the Bronx and my grandma being a seamstress.

So. Yes, that's, that's where I am right now.

Karis Reneé: Okay, cool. So shout us to all our New Yorkers. I know we got some Bronx girlies out there. Y'all gonna be real happy. And speaking of, in honor of that, I wore one of my fits from New York Fashion Week that I wore a couple seasons ago that was also featured and watching New York.

Um, if you guys know, um, who that is on Instagram, um, Johnny, he. Featured this look on, um, in his book actually, which you can find on [00:02:00] Amazon. You can also find him on, um, Instagram. So make sure you follow him. I know y'all go, y'all know him. He is a famous street photographer and he is all up and down those New York streets.

So yes, shout out to New York. I love New York and so, yes. All right, so let's talk a little bit about your upbringing. Upbringing. I know you've told me before. For about being a seamstress. And so I didn't know that you also were raised by somebody who was a seamstress, so yeah. Tell me a little more

Jessica Gorge: about that.

So my great-grandmother, Doris Seymour, she was a seamstress in the projects in the Bronx. Okay. Um, making dresses for the women in the community. And Oh, I love, I I was seven at the time. Mm-Hmm. And she taught me how to sew. And the first outfit I created was for my baby sister, which was a pair of overalls and a turtleneck shirt.

From there, I started designing clothes for my Barbie dolls. It just spiraled up into going, you know, drawing, painting, designing. And then, um, high school came and I had to audition for FIT, LaGuardia [00:03:00] Graphic Arts. Um, I ended up going to graphic arts high school, so that's how I learned the other things, like making websites and logos and stuff.

So, um, then I moved to North Carolina, but for the most part, I have been making clothes in high school, designing handbags. Making drapes. Furniture, upholstery and things like that.

Karis Reneé: Yep. You know, as creatives we always get dibble and dabble in all different things. It's so, I love when I have these conversations and we kind of see where we cross paths because we have a lot of things in, in common when it comes to that.

Like I've talked about in previous episodes, how my aunt is also was. Seamstress. And so I was super inspired by her. Um, and then also I also studied graphic design. I, I have a degree in graphic design from a and t Aggie Pride. Y'all know, I'm always shout it out if I get a opportunity every time. And so I love that we have kind of some of those similarities there.

Yes, ma'am. Um, so yeah, so tell me a little bit about like, okay, so you went to, [00:04:00] um, graphic art school and that was high school, right? Right. Okay. And so you said you had to audition for FIT and LaGuardia. Tell me a little bit about that. And did you attend a fashion school, like for college or anything, or university?

Yeah.

Jessica Gorge: So, um, with the auditions for FIT, LaGuardia and Graphic Arts, um, I didn't get accepted into, I really wanted to go to FIT mm-Hmm. I just knew I was gonna be a dress designer going into fashion weeks and things like that. Yeah. But that didn't happen. God's plan was for me to go into graphic arts.

Mm-Hmm. And so, um. The auditioning plan for that was, um, I don't know how vulnerable I could get so you can get as vulnerable as your life. Being from the Bronx. My mother, she was a single mom Mm-Hmm. When I was in high school and the art supplies, we couldn't, she couldn't get for me. And so my middle school teacher helped me create these enormous portfolios, and this was mixed media stuff.

I took with me skinny little me [00:05:00] on the train traveling to all these different schools from the Bronx to Manhattan, um, to audition. And so it gave me the opportunity to leave the Bronx and see something different. And so I ended up in Manhattan and was going to school for graphic arts. I then moved to North Carolina.

Went to school for business at Wake Tech. And then I did a little bit of fashion, um, at Meredith College before I started having, having children. Yeah. See

Karis Reneé: another crossover because I also, like I said, I was into fashion at that time as well, and you know, when I was in high school. School and stuff like that.

But I was also really heavy into graphic design at the time, so I was looking at graphic design schools and fashion schools, and at that time there weren't a lot of fashion schools. Mm-Hmm. Especially locally. I was gonna have to go to New York, go to la, even go to Atlanta. I had considered scab, but at that time.

I wasn't ready to leave. And I, as a, a little southern girl, I didn't know a lot about, like FIT and all of the [00:06:00] Parsons, all of the big fashion schools in New York. And I clearly did, was not ready to be going up there at that time. So Meredith was the only school that we really had here, right, for fashion.

And I applied and I got into Meredith as well, but my dad didn't think that it would've been smart at that time for me to go to an all girls school. And he was probably right. So. Yeah, my fashion story started later. Yeah. And it's okay as long as you get in it and you continue. Absolutely. But I love that you were exposed to different things because you were able to get outside of your community.

'cause a lot of times that's what it is. A lot of times we only know what what is right there and what we see. See, and there's so much more to explore and so much more opportunity outside of our small community. Right. So that's amazing that you were able to even get that. I can only imagine you being on the on the train.

What? My mother fought hard for us Yeah. To get out of that. So I love that. Let's get into how you even got into shoe design.

Jessica Gorge: Okay. So. All my life I've been [00:07:00] drawing. Mm-Hmm. Um, and it's always just been, I can draw. I love that. 'cause I can't and I need somebody that can.

So we already had that conversation. We did. We did. So I always could just draw. Yeah. And was really good at it. And you know, back. If you go back to high school and middle school, um, we're drawing Sailor Moon. Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm. And Dragon ballsy. And then my father was a big dragon gamer with my brothers. And so I was drawing all the characters and Darth dark stalkers and things like that.

So drawing shoes and then, um, so the fashion and the clothing. I started working at, um, time Warner Cable and I was in their collections department and I just, um, had this idea.

Which I still haven't really seen in the market. I think one designer, she's new in New York that's doing it now, but it's completely different from ir, but. I wanted a shoe that I hate purses. Mm-Hmm. Even though I designed them and make them, I hate them. Them, you know, I love them. Right. And so I just, um, so like right now all my life is in my phone [00:08:00] like this.

Yeah. So I wanted a shoe that I could put my money, my, my um, card and things like that. And so, and you're a

Karis Reneé: New York girl, so that also makes sense. Like y'all live a fast, like that's what you were used to.

Jessica Gorge: Right. So I just started drawing shoes and the next thing I know I was just designing a lot of shoes and I met a girl actually named Sean.

She has a. Fitness clothing line in Charlotte called fem, I believe is how you pronounce that. Okay. And so me and her, we used to just draw and design. Draw and design. And um, one day I was like, I wonder if I can make this real. There's a lot of shoe designers. Why can I not have my own shoe? Why not? Right.

So that was back in 2012 when your M OQs had to be 500. Yeah. That was very, very expensive. Mm-Hmm. And the answer was no, I could not do it. So now fast forward to today, you can get as little as 50.

Karis Reneé: So now for our people watching, explain to them what an MLQ is.

Jessica Gorge: It's a minimum order quantity. Okay. So, um, what that means is for the manufacturer to even produce anything, you have to pay them for [00:09:00] their minimum requirements. So back in 20 10, 12, it was 500 mm-Hmm times. However, much of the shoe costs, $50 to make. Times 500. That was way too much money for me to have for inventory.

Karis Reneé: Right.

Jessica Gorge: Um, and then I don't think social media was that big Mm-Hmm. Back then from marketing. Mm-Hmm. And it was like, how was I going to do this then? Mm-Hmm. And I was a new mom and it was just not happening. Okay. So, um, fast forward now, a lot of these places do 50 to a hundred, but you have to really make sure that the people you are finding.

Providing you the quality that you want. Yeah. And that's a lot of

Karis Reneé: work and the process. And I know because I've done a little bit of, of it with, um, you know, something that I've been working on, you know, but I'm not gonna announce it right now. But, and so, and the process has been so difficult, just like getting the prototypes done and, and going through that process and trying to work with your manufacturer, especially if they're overseas and Right.

The communication and going back and forth, it's [00:10:00] so. Much, and it's so much work and it takes so much time, right. That people don't even understand. And I know you have that experience with Dylan. So talk a little bit more about that too, and just like, okay, um, your experience, because once you got to, once you decided to start drawing shoes and you, you saw some, you had this design in your mind that you felt like wasn't out there in the market, like what did you do next?

'cause I know that you have worked with wholesalers and stuff like that and you have some prototypes, which we'll get into later. Yeah. But like, kind of talk about that, that experience and that process for you. So back then

Jessica Gorge: it was Yellow Pages and Google. Now there's a company that I wanted to work with, but they wanted you to have $50,000 just to start.

Mm. And. I just didn't have that at the time. Right. So, because most of us don't, right. In the era of social media, I was like, well, who are they following? Right? Because you have Alibaba and Ali Express. Mm-Hmm. And then you're paying hundreds and thousands of [00:11:00] dollars to get prototype after prototype after prototype.

And they're. Posting pictures of similar items. So it's like, who actually has the quality? You don't know until you pay.

Karis Reneé: Mm-Hmm.

Jessica Gorge: So I decided to see who this company that I wanted to work with is following. And they're based in New York and they're following their own manufacturers.

Karis Reneé: Mm-Hmm.

Jessica Gorge: So that was like.

Little tip. God opened. Listen to God.

Karis Reneé: A little tip.

Jessica Gorge: Yeah. God. God was opening the door for me. Yeah. And I started to see, you know, I wanted to deal with, um, Italians, because most of the shoes that I have and the shoes that my mom has, that sense, because I haven't even told y'all about the fashionista. My mother is.

Oh, I can't wait to hear. But. Um, they were all Italian made shoes. Mm-Hmm. But I knew with my budget and being a single mom right now, I need to go, you know, towards the Asian market. Mm-Hmm. And so, um, my shoes are being made in Hong Kong. Mm-Hmm. Okay. But they're following this person and the quality is there.

Mm-Hmm. As y'all can see.

Karis Reneé: Yes. So, since you showed 'em, let's go ahead and get into it. Sorry, sorry. And No, no, no, [00:12:00] it's fine. Let's talk about your product. Like we can come back. We can jump around. Okay. So let's talk about, because the shoes that you have on y'all. Listen, I want a pair. I wish she would've provided me a pair.

You know, I had to just do my own thing today, but it's okay. She's the moment, so let's focus on her. So, yeah, so let's talk about 'em. So is this part of, before we even jump to that, because I feel like I know that you had some shoes prior to, so I'm sure this isn't where we started. Mm-Hmm. This is where we are right now.

Right? So let's talk about where we started and then come to where we are right now. Okay.

Jessica Gorge: So, um. I have a vault Mm-Hmm. Of designs that I have created over the last 12 years. I love that. So what jumpstarted me from drawing them and them just being artwork to actually making it happen now in the last two, three years is my children.

Karis Reneé: Okay.

Jessica Gorge: And so they are very, very smart, but they're also very creative. Mm-Hmm. And there's this game called Minecraft. Yes, I'm sure everybody knows about it, and I don't know if it's Minecraft that makes [00:13:00] my kids talented or if my kids actually have talent, but they're designing homes on Minecraft, Uhhuh, and I'm just like, you guys never been to California.

How do you know how to make a house that looks like a multimillion dollar home in California? Wow. You know, and so when I see this, I'm like, how can I tell them? You could do anything you want or be anything you want. If I'm sitting on my own talent and my own passions. So the drive behind this is two things.

It's one to show my children if you draw it, if you think it, if you believe it, it can be possible. And it's true if you have to have faith, I love that. And work hard. Yeah. And then the second thing is I had to get this thing out the mud.

Karis Reneé: So

Jessica Gorge: for all the resilient women who wanna give up or who have been through some things, you know, um, this is the show.

Like, Hey, I've been through it all. Mm-Hmm. And we don't have time today for that story. Mm-Hmm. But yeah, I've been through it. And I'm still pursuing my dreams and my goals and I still have faith.

Karis Reneé: Absolutely. And I resonate with that so much because same here, sis. So it's like more power [00:14:00] to you. Thank you.

And you gonna get it done. Okay. So let's talk about your first shoe and your shoe now. 'cause like I said, those prototypes is a thing and, and where you start versus where you, where you really wanna be. Oh man. And then versus where you end, it's like so completely different.

Jessica Gorge: So the first shoe, so initially this shoe, I don't know if they're on camera.

Is it looking now or not? Yes, it's, but when I first drew the shoe, this was supposed to be a piece of leather that was like a turquoise Mm-Hmm. When I redrew it, I was like, dang, that'll be sexy if the flesh was showing through. Mm. So I removed that and I sent it to the one lady. I don't know if I could say brand names on here, but it was like a, did you say that?

Like rainbow quality? Mm. You know what I'm talking about? Yep. Mm-Hmm. Yeah. So I was like, no, this is not it. And so, and I gave her another shoe that's actually like a peek toe that has straps coming this way. Mm-Hmm. That was supposed to pair with this one. Mm-Hmm. That one. Um. It was a flop and I just was like, okay, this may not be, maybe it's me as a designer or them understanding me.

Yeah. Um, because that's the other thing that you work [00:15:00] with when you're doing Mm-Hmm. Things overseas is that. The language barriers, the translation. Yeah. Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm. So,

Karis Reneé: um, it's definitely a block. I've definitely experienced that myself too. And it's like, I'm showing you this and I'm a visual person, so I'm like, no, like this.

Like get it like this. And like you said, the prototypes are already expensive so you don't want to keep having to make them over and over. It's like, no, can you please get it right at the manufacturer at the warehouse before I even get it? 'cause I already know that's not right. I don't wanna get it like that.

Right. And so this manufacturer,

Jessica Gorge: I found spying on the, yeah. Industry secret. Industry secret. Um, he's pretty dope and he works with a lot of higher end designers. This is a prototype. That I can actually walk around and, and show people and it's not like I need to tweak this. I mean, there's tweaks, but Right.

He understood that I'm limited, I'm a single mom and I work, and I gotta go home and take care of kids. Mm-Hmm. My drawings, my tech pack actually didn't even have to do a. As a tech pack or sketch pack. Oh yes. I've done, I didn't have to. Yeah, I didn't have to do that now. [00:16:00] That's amazing. You can't have a tech pack.

I can draw. Yes. And you know, I had to hire somebody to do mine because Yeah, no, I got you next time. But I promise you so I love that for me, so I can draw and I just sent him images of the, the shoes that I have at home that are my favorite designers. Mm-Hmm. And how I want the insoles to be and the height, because I love high heel shoes.

Yes. And he made it in such a way where, 'cause I told him I have to take photos, I have to make this work for marketing. I can't keep going back and forth. Back and forth. Yes. So. This is what we got from that conversation. And then I love that. And the other shoe, you'll see it.

Karis Reneé: I love that. That's so beautiful.

Okay, so let's take a pause into your story. But I also, since you specifically just called this out, let's talk about some of your favorite designers. I also wanna talk about some of my favorite designers, and I'm gonna show you some of my shoes from my set, favorite designers. Okay. But let's talk about some of yours.

So

Jessica Gorge: I like Giuseppe. Okay. I like Sephora Webster. That makes sense. Um, I love Sephora Webster. Um, I like Jessica Simpson, believe it or not. Yes. A lot of my favorite working High Hill shoes come from Jessica. [00:17:00] Mm-Hmm. Um, and then I'll also wear Steve Madden. Um, so I have a range of yeah, shoes that I'm going through, but those are my top.

Karis Reneé: All right, so let's talk about some of my favorite designers. I also love Sophia Webster. She was actually gonna be the first person I said Oh nice. The butterfly and just the inspire. I haven't been able to have land me a pair of Sophia Webster's yet. They are coming soon, but she is literally my favorite shoe designer.

It's so whimsical and playful and I love that. It's super girly and I love her. I follow all of her and her marketing eats down. I used to love, like when Snapchat was like, I know Snapchat is coming back now, but like when it was first out, like she used to do this marketing on Snapchat and I loved it.

She also shows 'cause she can draw too, and so she also shows her designs of how she designs her shoes and then you'll like see it from like ideation to creation and I love that. Nice. Okay. So yeah, so she's one of my faves also. [00:18:00] One of my favorite designers, just in general, Kurt Geiger. So this is a pair of one of my Kurt Geiger shoes.

I feel like you would love this 'cause they're kind of strappy. Yeah. I haven't even worn these yet, but I love Kurt Geiger. They're bags, their shoes. I have also this shoe in a platform version. Wow. But I can't wait to wear this shoe, but I just love the colors. Of course. 'cause y'all know I'm a boat girly and I love my colors, so I love the colors.

And just like, it's not a shoe, it's not for everybody. Everybody's not gonna wear this shoe, but. Me, I love it.

Jessica Gorge: That Jennifer?

Karis Reneé: It's not okay. I actually don't have any, but I do like her shoes too. Talking about Jennifer, you said some good Jen. Good ones. Mm-Hmm. I love me some Jen Lee. So we talked about like you love Jessica Simpson. I love Jessica Simpson as well, but I love Azalea Wang.

Nice Aza Wang shoes. Like I have so many. I just pulled this one because I love these because of course it's sparkles and y'all know sparkles is my favorite color. But a Zoe Wang is another one of my shoe designers that I love, like. Boots, heels, [00:19:00] sandals, like they do it all, but they don't do it wrong.

Like Right. Everything that they do is right. I don't think they are exclusive to, to Akira, but they are one of their main shoe designers on Okay. Akira. So if y'all wanna go find Isaiah Wang, that's where you can find them.

So these are actually really special to me and she actually doesn't even really make these anymore. But, um, her name is Taylor Res and this is the brand Taylor says, and I love these shoes. These are my queen of heart. Shoes. And, um, what's so special about them is she takes the idea of like red bottoms and she's an artist.

And so she has these beautiful, designed, um, pieces on the bottom of her shoes. Um, she's a painter, so I think she does more like artwork now. And so she does some like. Some like street style like shoes. So she doesn't really do heels like that anymore. Okay. But when she was really popping, I loved her. And as Taylor says, and so like, these are some of my shoes that is just like a part of my collection.

Love, love. I, I wish she [00:20:00] would come back out and start making these again. Taylor, what's up, girl? Like, let's, let's get back to it. Okay. last but not least, I am not yet, but I hope to one day also follow in your footsteps and be a shoe designer.

That is a future goal of mine. And these are some shoes that I designed myself. Nice. And so I love them. And um, it's. What makes me super inspired. I love doing DIY things, and so these are something that is also a part of my collection that I'm super proud of. And it also just inspires me to, like I said, follow in your footstep.

So girl, nice. I'm rooting for you. I'm looking for to see everything that you do, and I will be knocking on your door when I'm like, Hey girl, what do I do? Right? All right, so beautiful. Let's play a game really quick. Like let's test your little knowledge of shoes. I know both of our knowledge, it's okay.

We gonna find and learn out together, okay? Okay. All right, so this game is called Fact or Cap. [00:21:00] So I'm gonna give you a fact and they're all shoe related and you gonna tell me if it's FACT or ka. And for those of y'all, I know y'all know what KA means, but fact or fiction, but ka, we using that instead.

. You ready?

Yes. Okay. So Jimmy Cchu Orig originally started as a bespoke shoemaker in London. Oh fact, cat, Lord fact. Fat. Okay. Okay. So Jimmy Cchu, a Malaysian born designer, first made a name for himself as a bespoke shoemaker in East London in the 1980s. He became well known for his handmade custom design shoes. I like Jimmy Shoes.

How you feel about Jimmy Shoes? I have

Jessica Gorge: not worn a pair of his shoes. I haven't either. I've that they're great working shoes. Like really to go to work in, to run in. I know a lot of us don't run in shoes, but. I, I used to run

Karis Reneé: in heels.

Jessica Gorge: Heels. That's what I'm saying. Like, I, I like, not like, but I can run in heels if I need to, if I need to, to, yeah, absolutely.

So I heard that they're good, good quality shoes.

Karis Reneé: [00:22:00] Okay, cool. All right, so next one. The Stiletto Hill was invented by Gucci in the 1950s. Cap. Cap. Cap. Okay. So the Stiletto Hill is often credited to French designer Roger Vivier, who created it in collaboration with Christian Dior. In the early 1950s, Gucci did not invent the stiletto, but contribute to its later popularity.

Okay. All right. Dot Martins were originally made as gardening shoes. I wanna say fact. Fact, it is a fact. It's the original Doc. Martin Boot was designed by German, Dr. Claus Martin in 1945 with air cushion souls to aid his recovery from a skiing accident. They were indeed popular for gardening and work due to their comfort and durability.

I love docs. Okay, nice. Erica loves docs too, y'all. Okay. [00:23:00] Christian Louboutin patented the Red Soul in the 1990s.

Jessica Gorge: Ah, I heard about some controversy with that because like, how do you patent a color, but, mm. I can't remember. I wanna say Ka,

Karis Reneé: actually fat. Okay. Christian Louboutin. I didn't know this either though.

Christian Louboutin began using Red Lacquered souls in 1993. I didn't even know it was that soon. And in 2008, he filed for a trademark, which he successfully obtained protecting his iconic red soul design. Wow. 1993. That seems so, so I thought that that was going on way longer than that. So,

Jessica Gorge: yeah. 'cause I feel like there was something recent, more recent, 'cause people are still fabricating shoes with red bottom.

So it's like, is it the color number that, you know in graphic arts with the, it's probably, yo, it's probably the pants numbers color. Right,

Karis Reneé: right, right. That's, that's his, y'all can't use that. Really? You can't use that [00:24:00] color. Right. Okay. So last one. Sneakers were first invented as a high fashion item. Huh

Cat. Cat sneakers were initially designed for athletic use and casual comfort, especially in the late 19th and earliest 20th century long before co becoming a high fashion item. Yeah. And, and we not sticker girlies, we heal girlies. So yes, we are, we, we wouldn't really know about that anyway, so we don't care about that.

Okay. All right. So let's get back into your story. Okay. So let's talk about where you are now with your shoe designs and what else you got. 'cause I feel like you hiding us some things behind there. So like, let's talk about what you're doing now. Okay. What you have upcoming and anything you wanna share.

Jessica Gorge: So what I'm working on now is getting the prototypes and two more colors. Okay. Um, relaunching my website. Mm-Hmm. [00:25:00] 'cause I did do a pre-sale last year to test the market. Made some sales. Oh yeah. And, um, not quite where I wanted to be, so I know I need more marketing help with that. Mm-Hmm. And, um, hoping to relaunch the pre-sale again for this upcoming 2025 spring.

I can't wait. Yep. Have another color for this one and two colors for the one I'm going to show you.

Karis Reneé: Okay. Let's see 'em. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm excited.

Jessica Gorge: Okay. So with prototypes, you don't get your proper packaging quite yet, right? So this is how I wanted you to see it firsthand. Yes. This is how it comes. Okay. But these are them. Ooh, just getting

Karis Reneé: a.

Jessica Gorge: The inspiration behind this shoe was, you know, Elaine Welter Ross.

I love Elaine. Yay. So she has this, um, she was featured on masterclass. Yes. And I took it and she was wearing a suit,

Karis Reneé: Uhhuh,

Jessica Gorge: and it was a, um, her jacket had the feathers on the sleeve. I know exactly what you're talking about. So while I was watching her and [00:26:00] getting inspiration, I drew the shoe. Inspiration comes from anywhere.

I love that. So, um, oh my God, are beautiful. Um, I think I might change my name to be embossed in it.

Karis Reneé: Uhhuh

Jessica Gorge: Ooh. Versus, um, just the laminate. Mm-Hmm. Because, um, I feel like when we sweat, the color fade off eventually. Okay.

Karis Reneé: And we didn't talk about that. So is your collection, is it, is it your namesake?

Jessica Gorge: Yes. I love that.

So Jessica George, my son, named the ones that the, that I'm wearing now. Mm-Hmm. These are Ketana. And this is named after my daughter, Emma. Aw. I love that. I think it's of flirt. Ooh. And it's relaxed. It's a super pointy toe. Mm-Hmm.

Karis Reneé: I love the gold heel. Thank you. I love how the heel comes up at the top.

Thank you. And I love ostrich feathers. I love ost feathers for like all of that. It's so, and the color is beautiful. You patenting that color. The pink.

Jessica Gorge: Listen, I'm, I'm thinking about it. We'll see. Oh

Karis Reneé: my

Jessica Gorge: God, this is

Karis Reneé: beautiful. I'm so happy to see this. I can't wait. Yeah. You know I will wear these. Yes, ma'am.

You know [00:27:00] I will wear these. Oh my gosh. They are beautiful. And yeah, this being Iba would be beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. Oh my gosh. I can't wait. Okay. That blue is gorgeous. Thank you.

Okay. So I'm so excited. Okay. So tell me a little bit more about like what you're trying to do next year. And I know you say relaunching a website, you're gonna host a sale. Like what is kind of the steps and what are, where are you at now in the process?

Jessica Gorge: So now in the process, I am going back and forth with the manufacturer on the, this light cream color that I wanna work with.

Mm-Hmm. Um, and there and getting that fine tuned and then, um, get in the. Prototypes back photo shoots for the social media content and for the website. Okay. And then launching it, I wanna say around March, April. That's right. Yeah. So that I can get the pre, pre-orders in.

Karis Reneé: Is this an exclusive [00:28:00] as far as we finding out first? Yes. Yes. You guys?

Jessica Gorge: Yes. Yes, yes, yes. I love that. I thought you second.

Karis Reneé: Okay. I love that for us. Okay, so y'all heard it here first. Jessica George. She's going to be launching at the top of the year, hopefully in the first quarter. So look out for that.

Yes, yes, yes. Oh my gosh. I'm so excited for you. Thank you. I cannot wait. I love these shoes, as y'all know. I am a. Hill girly. So to find somebody that loves hills just as much as I do, and not only love them, but create them, I love it. Like this is so beautiful. I cannot wait to see. Okay, so what else do you wanna tell us about that?

Jessica Gorge: I I'm prayerful that things would be successful. Um, they will be with my business. I do want to give back, especially to Raleigh. Okay. Like I said, being a single mom, there's a lot of resources here for a person like me Mm-Hmm. And how they've helped me get to where I am. And so I wanna pour back into my community.

I love it. Here it, um, and help other women and single moms, or even single [00:29:00] dads. Mm-Hmm. Just the people who. Resonate with my story of resilience and getting pushed that push through. Yeah. I wanna give back to that here in Wake County. Okay. So, um, that's the big picture for this. Hopefully this will prayerfully, this will be where it needs to be.

It'll, so that I can help other people.

Karis Reneé: Absolutely. And then what about our roots? Like, do we have any ideas on that? Like, are we gonna try to show a fashion week? Like what, what are we gonna do with that?

Jessica Gorge: I didn't get that far yet. Okay. I, I really haven't. I'm just excited to just show that. It was on paper.

Yes. And I can touch it. Yes. My children saw it on paper and they can touch it. I love that. And so that's where I am.

Karis Reneé: No people are going to run for these. They are going to love them. They are so beautiful. Thank you. Beautifully made. And like you said, the quality is there. Thank [00:30:00] it. Okay, let's play one little game before we get outta here.

One more game. All right. This is gonna be like our rapid fire game, but shoe edition. So this is called this or that. I'm gonna give you two options and you tell me which one that you would choose out of the two, okay? Okay. All right. Kitten Hill or Stiletto? Stiletto. All day every day. Okay. High top sneaker or low top sneaker?

Jessica Gorge: [00:31:00] Ooh, depends. Oh gosh, that's, um, I'm gonna say high top

Karis Reneé: because

Jessica Gorge: you,

Karis Reneé: you got to walk those New York blocks. So like at some point, you know, sneakers Okay, you stay high top mm-Hmm. I'm definitely would go low top. mm-Hmm. But I think it's also 'cause I'm a short girl.

Jessica Gorge: Yeah. So, so you, 'cause when I remember wearing sneakers in the Bronx, I was wearing the.

Velcro be,

Karis Reneé: you know, I'm talking about about,

Jessica Gorge: so I always wore high tos. I do remember that it went,

Karis Reneé: that's hilarious. Okay. Pointed toe or round toe point all day? Yes ma'am. Um, open toe or close toe. Open toe. I'm okay with that. That, yeah. Open toe. I hate closed toe. Mm-Hmm. My my toes need to breathe. Okay.

Now, because I had such a disarray on TikTok because of this comment that I made about one of the trends that I hate the most, I wanna know your thoughts behind it. Okay? So tabby's or ballet flag [00:32:00] hats. You know, I

Jessica Gorge: honestly

Karis Reneé: dunno what a

Jessica Gorge: tabby is, bro. Good.

Karis Reneé: I really don't. So the tabby boots are those boots that have like the split toe?

No, no

Jessica Gorge: child. You know what I'm talking about now? Yes. It's like a round toe and it's like, yes, look like Ninja Turtle. Feet, horse,

Karis Reneé: feet. And they was like, what? I didn't know. I'm sorry. No, a lot of girls did not like me for that comment, but I stand 10 toes down on it, but a lot of people also agree with me.

Yeah. So yeah, I'm gonna wear the ballet LAC all day. I'm wearing those. Okay. Chunky platform or platform? I like the chunky. Okay. I like, I have a lot of chunkies actually. I do too. I do too. Lace up boots or zipper boots. Gimme a lace. I love it. The detail. Ew. Sexy. Okay. Thigh high or ankle? Boot. Thigh high. Me too.

All day? Mm-Hmm. [00:33:00] Okay. Esper drill. Sandal or slides? Oh gosh. I'm gonna do a slide. Me too. I'm not, I sometimes like, and I have a couple, but I rarely wear them, but I don't really like the, the basket weave. Like, yeah. That's just not really my aesthetic. Right. Like, it, it's cute on some people. It's just not really cute on me.

Jessica Gorge: I think it's more my roots too, though. I like, I like slides, I like thong slides. We 12 mm-Hmm. We call 'em chunk lots in the, in the Bronx. Like a just quick on, quick slide on. Yeah. That makes sense. Mm-Hmm.

Karis Reneé: Okay. Mules or loafers. Ooh. That one's hard. I like them both. I'm not wearing either one. Really? Why? I don't like really the look of loafers, and I hate my heel out.

If my toe isn't out,

Jessica Gorge: I'm okay with it. I had a really nice pair of Jessica Simpsons that were pointed toe. Yeah. And they kind of wrapped around here, but the hill was out and it was bad.

Karis Reneé: And I think it's also [00:34:00] 'cause my foot not small. So like it just looked like I'm a size 10 girl. I don't like girl. I don't, I don't like it.

Well, you rock 'em girl. If I steal 'em, I'll tell you because my all right. Com cowboy boots or combat boots.

Jessica Gorge: I'm gonna do a combat boot with a heel.

Karis Reneé: Ooh. Yeah. A luck kill. Mm-Hmm. Yeah, I like that. I'm definitely gonna do a combat boot for sure. Classic, athletic, inspired sneaker, or high fashion sneaker.

Jessica Gorge: That's

Karis Reneé: hard.

Jessica Gorge: Depends. I have some Sophia Webster sneakers.

Karis Reneé: Mm,

Jessica Gorge: okay.

Karis Reneé: Yeah. So a high fashion sneaker. Yeah. I'm gonna go with a Nike, Adidas all day. I. The trend that these, like Balenciaga and all of those, I don't like 'em. Yeah.

Jessica Gorge: That, that dad shoes. Yeah.

Karis Reneé: The shoes that they make look dirty, like, yeah, I don't like 'em.

Jessica Gorge: I'm okay on those, but I'm gonna throw, I do like the Sophia Webster ones [00:35:00] and I, I will wear a pair of Nikes to the gym. That's what I'm saying. Mm-Hmm. It just depends on, yeah. Where I'm going, what I'm doing. Okay. Cool.

Karis Reneé: Before we wrap things up with Jessica, y'all know this is my favorite part of the episode. It's the style spotlight. So today's style spotlight is Ms. Jackson, um, Chantal Jackson, who you can find on IG as miss. Jackson, she is a shoe lover just like me and my girl, Jessica. She also has her own shoe brand that will help you be comfortable in your shoes called Shoe Gummy.

And I'm just so inspired by her. She has some of the most beautiful shoes and she's always featuring shoes. And her love for high heels is what made her create her brand, that shoe gummy. So. Check her out on IG and TikTok, and if you do, be sure to comment and tag us with fashion files to let her know that we sent y'all.

All right, so this wraps up this [00:36:00] episode. I want you guys to, of course, go follow Jessica. So Jessica, tell them how they can find you on social media.

Jessica Gorge: So I am currently on Instagram at South Bronx, Jess, JESS. Um, spell out Bronx. So South BR. ONX, Jess.

Karis Reneé: Awesome. And if you follow her there, you'll be able to see all of her updates so that you can follow along with where she is on her journey with launching or relaunching her shoe collection, Jessica George.

So be sure to follow that so you'll know what's happening and you can be first in line to get these beautiful shoes when they launch. So I hope y'all enjoy Jessica's. Anything else you wanna tell the people before we get outta here? No, but thank you for having me. Thank I appreciate, girl. Okay, y'all. So until next time, stay stylish and keep that flame burning bright.

Bye. [00:37:00]