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Bespoke Wedding Shoes Inspired by the Couple's Heritage

Updated: Aug 20

Smiling woman in a white jacket and blue patterned scarf in a decorated room; background features flowers and brick wall.
Written by Kendra W. Houston | Artist & Fashion Designer
Kendra specializes in creating one-of-a-kind clothing items by hand-painting custom designs on them. She works with clients looking for something truly unique to wear for their weddings, charity galas, and other special occasions.


Hi Friends,


This is my wedding story, and the custom hand-painted shoes that would have been. 💖


My husband Cole and I loved our casual & intimate seaside celebration--


A couple in wedding attire stands under an umbrella on a rainy day, facing a vast green lawn, distant sea, and cloudy sky. The photo conveys a sense of calm and togetherness.
Wedding photography by Alex Maxwell

It was just us, the ocean, the rain, and 50 of our closest people. There was drawing on paper tablecloths, a bouquet of wildflowers I put together that morning, music performed by family members, a dance party to ward off the unseasonable chill, a French food truck...the perfect day! 



While I had been painting clothes for a while at this point, wedding attire wasn't in the picture yet. 

 

So, what would I have created for us if this celebration happened today? 

 

I recently consulted with Cole and answered that question by painting us these custom wedding shoes!


Two shoes on wooden floor: left, hand-painted yellow floral heels with text and pearls; right, brown leather shoes with hand-painted birds.

The loose theme of our day was heritage. We included lots of little details that honored our multifaceted families and ancestry, and these shoes would have been the perfect addition!


Get bespoke hand-painted shoes for your own wedding


If you’d like to elevate your special day with a custom piece, I can help! Let’s create something for you to wear that’s unique, creative, and 100% made for you.



 


Cole's shoes represent his Japanese heritage through motifs and symbols; mine do the same for my Welsh ancestry.


Brown boots with hand-painted cranes and knot patterns in gold and white, with small touches of black and red. Kanji characters on the back add an artistic touch.

Cole's shoes feature symbols and colors traditionally associated with weddings in Japanese culture:


  • Plum blossom musubi (knots)

  • Cranes

  • The characters for love and joy

  • Gold, white, and red


Beige flats with hand-painted yellow flowers and pearl accents on wooden floor. Black toe with white cursive text. Initials "C" and "K" on back.

The design for mine is anchored in Welsh culture:


  • Daffodils: the Welsh national flower

  • A line from a Welsh poem that translates to "I will walk with you whatever may come."


To complete the design, I included the first letters of our names on the backs.


These bespoke wedding shoes were a delight to make. Creating something for myself and my husband made me (if possible) even more excited about the special pieces I get to do for others!


Shoes especially can really add meaning to an outfit in a creative way, and can often be worn for many occasions well beyond the special event!

 

If you're on the hunt for those little touches that will complete an important outfit, let's set up a time to talk ideas! Space fills up fast in my calendar and I want to make sure you get in:



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Woman smiling in a light blazer and patterned scarf stands indoors, with floral arrangement in background. Bright and cheerful mood.

About Kendra


Kendra W. Houston is a visual artist and fashion designer who specializes in customizing clothing items by painting one-of-a-kind designs on them by hand.

 

She is based out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and appreciates contributing to the slow fashion movement in one of the birthplaces of American industrial textile mills. She works out of a cozy home studio, assisted by her pet rabbit Tiverton.


Kendra's designs are detailed and immersive, often reflecting things that hold special significance to the wearer. The name of her brand, The Casual Reply, comes from a line in a John Denver song: “talk to God and listen to the casual reply.”

 

Each one of her items is a handcrafted work of fine art that is nonetheless intended to be used and worn as an entirely functional clothing item. Continuing and meaningfully adding to the story of a garment using unconventional, personal themes and designs is a source of true joy for Kendra in pursuing this calling.

 

She regularly participates as a featured designer in charity fashion shows as well as juried art events throughout New England.

 
 
 

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