Kendrick
A legacy of craft and vision, from Normandy's leather capital to Parisian luxury.
A Legacy of Craft and Vision
Born in the heart of Normandy, Europe's leather capital in the Middle Ages, where Thierry Hermès perfected his leatherworking technique between 1828 and 1837 before founding the famous luxury group. This city of tanners housed France's largest tannery supplying luxury groups, the Élysée Palace, and the automotive industry. This tannery became the subject of his first photo reportage.
Kendrick's story is rooted in a family legacy of artistry, resilience, and creative exploration. Raised by parents who cherished the arts and adventure (travel, horse riding and sailing boat), Kendrick inherited a lineage of resistance fighters, painters, dressmakers, bootmakers, and fashion lovers who sketched dreams in eras when photography was forbidden.
“ This heritage was further enriched by both grandfathers' deep connection to the shoe industry - one a store manager for Heyraud brand, the other a skilled bootmaker and shoemaker. ”
Our family story reaches far back, to a 14th-degree cousinship with Éléonore-Justine Ruffin—later known as Princesse Bonaparte, wife of Prince Pierre-Napoléon Bonaparte—a distant echo that continues to inspire our commitment to excellence and timeless elegance.
Kendrick is also an accomplished rider, a passion that reflects the equestrian heritage deeply rooted in French luxury and craftsmanship.
This artistic lineage is further enriched by the Newtonian heritage, drawing inspiration from the legendary photographer Helmut Newton's bold and sophisticated approach to fashion photography.
His photographic talent was recognized with the Second Prize, Cadre d'Or, at Espace Pierre Cardin. The Director of IESA (arts & culture school) wrote: "What a wonderful work, what an aesthetic and spiritual dimension."
The Foundation: Engineering Meets Design
The base-line, or sole, of Kendrick's professional life is his engineering degree in mechanical systems. Between design courses and community work, he began to realize that creativity is a vital necessity. But before he could take his thoughts any further, his military service caught up with him and sent him to Mexico as an international volunteer in an international company.
This brutal uprooting from which he returned with two personal assets: an enhanced talent for photography, which he would even use in a travel guide, and a fascination, fed by his distance from France, for a fantasized image of the Parisian woman in high heels.
“ A fascination, fed by his distance from France, for a fantasized image of the Parisian woman in high heels. ”
The Heel: A Vertiginous Career Path
The heel is a vertiginous heel, of course, for the man who collects the most diverse lines on his resume. As a fashion photographer, he goes to fashion weeks and red carpet events. As a web designer, he worked on the development of digital platforms for the daily newspaper Le Figaro.
The Upper: Creating the Complete Shoe
If the sole and the heel are good, it's now time to dress the foot, to create the shoe that will sublimate the person wearing it. Developing his own models is exactly what Kendrick has been thinking about for years. His dual background as an engineer and a fashion photographer allowed him to think about shoes differently, and to launch into the creation of his first prototype.
“ From fashion photography to shoemaker. ”
Returning to France, Kendrick's lens found its place in the heart of Parisian life and the world of high fashion. As a professional photographer for photography agencies and magazines like Forbes and Le Figaro, Kendrick captured the strength and elegance of women, each frame a tribute to their spirit and individuality.
His work was published in major press outlets including Le Figaro, Nouvel Économiste, Métro, Direct Soir, 20 Minutes, France Soir, Choc, Entrevue, Ici Paris, Nouvel Obs, Public, Elle, Madame Figaro, L'Officiel, Collezioni Haute Couture, Paris Match, and many more.
His work was published in major press outlets including Le Figaro, Nouvel Économiste, Métro, Direct Soir, 20 Minutes, France Soir, Choc, Entrevue, Ici Paris, Nouvel Obs, Public, Elle, Madame Figaro, L'Officiel, Collezioni Haute Couture, Paris Match, and many more.
The store and the magazine
A fashion magazine was born with Kendrick in charge of artistic direction and technical realization. It first launched as a web blog and iPhone and Android application in September 2015. By the end of 2015, the blog was selected for the Golden Blog Awards in the lifestyle category.
“ I was inspired by Chinese haute couture designer Guo Pei's magnificent golden dresses, works of art now exhibited in museums. I wanted to follow her fashion shows and create the magazine. I was able to interview her and give her the magazine covering 4 of her shows. ”
In the summer of 2017, Kendrick co-created a concept store for international fashion creators in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, near the Pantheon. It was following this experience that the magazine was created with the mission of highlighting creators and talents as well as fashion editorials, with a launch party. The current website is its digital form.
Fight for your mind. Find your path.
Without any training as a shoemaker, but with a deep desire, after years of working in the digital world, to find a manual activity. And a first pair was born. A simple, uncluttered sandal that caught the eye of certain designers. And in addition to taking pride of place in trendy Parisian boutiques, they ended up on the feet of television presenters or stars on the same red carpets he walked as a fashion photographer.
“ I wanted to materialize woman's strength, the one I could see on the fashion shows runways. I went to trade shows to get components and decided to do it myself, as training would have taken years. I bought a leather, needles and a thread and I started. ”
As an engineer who worked in automotive design, particularly on car bodies, Kendrick brings a unique perspective to footwear design. The timeless elegance of a well-designed shoe, he believes, shares the same principles as automotive design: clean lines, perfect proportions, and a form that serves both function and beauty. Just as a classic car silhouette remains beautiful decades later, a well-crafted shoe should transcend trends and maintain its appeal through the years.
After the sandal, boots, ankle boots and pumps followed, always in the same straightforward colours (red, yellow, black, nude) and with the same concern for a simple and ultra-elegant line.
As his brand began to make a name for itself in the fashion world, Kendrick the engineer quickly became Kendrick the shoe designer. To facilitate this transition, he followed a training course at the French Fashion Institute (Institut Français de la Mode, IFM with Station F), «l'Incubateur», to develop his brand. A project that already seems to be off to a good start and on the right footing!
The brand
The brand is a reflection of Kendrick's personality and values. It is a celebration of the human experience, of the beauty of the world, and of the power of creativity.
