Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Bessent and Leslie Jackson-Bessent.
Stephen and Leslie, please share your story with us.
As a child, I wanted to be a lawyer. I never imagined that I would end up as a shoe designer. I stumbled into this industry by chance. I joined the navy right after 9/11 to become a Navy Seal but my career in the military was cut short due an allergic reaction to the anthrax vaccine which has caused me to have multiple heart surgeries so in the beginning designing was sort of a coping mechanism to take my mind off of everything that my family and I were going through at the time. Once I really started taking designing seriously, I bet my wife that I could design a pair of shoes hotter than the pair she was going to purchase at the time and that if she didn’t buy the shoes I would have the pair I designed made for her.
Hence, the birth of ‘Origin’ the very first shoe I designed which is one of our top shoes in the debut Homage collection. I designed that shoe almost 10 years ago. I’ve been designing ever since but didn’t really start pursuing my new found passion and creativity until the beginning of 2016 thanks to my wife and creative director for the brand, Leslie.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! As a self-funded footwear designer trying to carve a space for my brand in such a saturated industry the struggle to be seen is a big issue especially if you have a small following on social media. My wife and I do everything on our own and so we are limited to what we can do. We also don’t have much product so that has hindered our growth a little bit. Right now, we are looking at funding options for start-up fashion businesses. There are limited resources currently for veterans venturing into the fashion industry. You rarely hear of people leaving the military and doing something outside of the IT or engineering industry. This is the biggest challenge to date.
The support from clients has been amazing though. Everyone that sees the product and hears our story falls in love with the brand and our offering.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Agnes Bethel – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Branded as the “Rebels of Luxury Footwear”, Agnes Bethel combines a rebellious spirit with unconventionally sophisticated silhouettes. Our focus is bringing back creativity, individuality and freedom of expression through the art of style. Our designs are raw, authentic and rebellious. Luxury is no longer about a price tag but more of an experience. Through distinctive branding in limiting our design offering to smaller quantities, we are able to enhance our customer’s buying experience by giving them a sense of exclusivity one design at a time. When we sell out of one style rarely will that particular style or color be restocked unless it is an Agnes Bethel staple shoe. All of our shoes are meticulously made in Italy by skilled artisans using only premium materials. Our #1 goal is craftsmanship, proper fit and functionality.
When I design I consider everything from the way a woman walks to the anatomy of her foot and create designs accordingly to provide comfort and functionality. Agnes Bethel is all about sophisticated sexiness.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love San Diego because of the laid-back vibe. San Diego is so diverse and such a chill place. The weather is beautiful and there are tons of talented artistic people and a lot of hidden gems.
The only complaint that I have about San Diego is some of the drivers, their impatience and the lack of using indicators properly. LOL! Other than that, San Diego is amazing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agnesbethel.com
- Phone: 844.781.8900
- Email: info@agnesbethel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesbethelshoes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agnesbethelshoes/
Image Credit:
Ulysses Burden III (photographer), OG Head Shots (photographer), 3SG Studio, Alexis Ryan, Zoe Birdsell, Alex Hix
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
