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In 2013 the iconic shoe designer and head of the eponymous label Christian Louboutin discovered his true heritage: French-Egyptian. Although the designer had long held an affinity for Egypt, Louboutin believed his background was solely French. Since discovering his Arab identity, the designer has spoken about his prescient interest in Egypt, how he processed the news and what it has meant for him moving forward. Here are the sources Louboutin has shared his insight.

BoF Voices 2021

During an interview with Rozan Ahmed for BoF Voices, 2021, Christian Louboutin spoke about how his childhood experiences inform the way he directs his company today. In his youth, the designer was passionate about Egyptian imagery, culture, and architecture. He frequently followed this passion and travelled to the country when he could (buying a property on the Left Bank of the Nile in the early 2000s). The designer noted that he was not overly surprised when his sister divulged that his biological father was Egyptian. He looks back on this news now and interprets his passion as a prescient notion like his heritage was “ingrained in [him] already.” The same goes for shoes. While a student, Louboutin gravitated toward drawing and constantly drew shoes in his notebooks. Following his passions has been validated in these profound and optimistic ways and is one of the most critical lessons underlining Louboutin’s practice today. Listen to the interview now at The Business of Fashion podcast.

Financial Times

The designer addressed the Financial Times readers in an essay discussing his breakthrough about his Egyptian heritage. In the essay, the designer divulges that he always felt an affinity to the country, and was drawn to its fantastical religious imagery as a boy. He says that Paris was a good place for fostering his early love of the country, noting that “even if you have just a little interest in Egypt, you can see it everywhere” in the city. He recalls one of his early trips to the country as a teenager where he visited the Dahshur pyramids: “It was illuminating, almost like going into a vein.” To him, it “felt as if something was telling me that there are greater things; bigger things than myself.” The designer shared that at that point, he knew something big would happen in his life and started to visit the country every year. 

Belfast Telegraph

Louboutin shared the experience of uncovering his Arab heritage in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph in 2018. The designer mentioned that he “was surprised and not surprised” when his sister revealed that his biological father was Egyptian. Louboutin added that it was because he “had such a big love of Egypt. But then of course [he] was surprised because [he] thought my mother was a saint.” The French-Egyptian designer has always felt drawn to this aspect of himself, despite being in the dark for most of his life. Proving that Egypt is not only Louboutin’s centre of gravity, but is also a source of great comfort and inspiration. This realisation was a full-circle moment for the man who always saw the Middle East as his spiritual home.