LONDON — Natacha Ramsay-Levi is adding fresh energy to Ecco, one of Denmark’s best-known footwear brands, as its first creative partner.
An announcement is expected Thursday.
Ramsay-Levi, who has a long history in luxury goods, and is a former creative director of the Richemont-owned Chloé, will work with Ecco for four seasons.
Her first “NRL” collection for Ecco drops this week, and the next one will arrive in early 2024.
The creative partner role is a new one for Ecco, which is known for its supple leather boots and shoes and styles that range from the sporty to the urban.
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Going forward, Ecco plans to invite a series of designers to create collections over a two-year period.
Ramsay-Levi’s first drop features 15 styles that riff on some of Ecco’s signature, soft leather designs.
She has fused different styles, adding a chunky, sneaker sole to a ballerina flat, and transforming a Chelsea style boot with a patchwork of bright color.
She’s also given a dash of glamour to other boot styles, adding chunky heels; playing with proportions; or injecting shades such as bright pink, or lipstick red.
This isn’t the first time that Ramsay-Levi has worked with the Danish brand.
She was among the first cohort taking part in Ecco’s At.Kollektive project, which introduced a variety of designers to Ecco’s research, development and manufacturing expertise, and asked them to dream up creations for the brand.
Ecco, which was founded in 1963, is a family-owned, vertically integrated business that manufactures and sells footwear for men, women and children. It operates 2,000 stores worldwide and its annual revenue is 1.7 billion euros.
Ramsay-Levi stepped down from Chloé in December 2020, having brought an edgy élan to the brand during her four years there.
She also helped the house develop a more purpose-driven business model hinged on social sustainability and aiding the advancement of women.
She joined Chloé in 2017 from Louis Vuitton, where she had been creative director of women’s ready-to-wear since 2013.
The designer started her fashion career at Balenciaga in 2002 and rose through the design ranks to become Nicolas Ghesquière’s top design deputy.
When he exited Balenciaga in 2013, she went on to consult for several brands, including Hermès and Acne Studios, before rejoining Ghesquière at Vuitton.
This story was reported by WWD and originally appeared on WWD.com.
