Building on the brand signatures of his eponymous label, American footwear powerhouse Brian Atwood is bringing a fresh new take to the market — with help from his little brother Zak Rodriguez. The two have long shared a passion for fashion’s ability to tell a story. At the young age of 10, Rodriguez remembers sitting at the dining table with his brother, coloring copies of Atwood’s shoe sketches. Now, the two are coming together to launch iL FRATELLINO (iL FRAT for short), designed by Rodriguez.
Atwood has more than earned the approval of the fashion world and Hollywood’s hottest celebrities since launching his brand almost 20 years ago. So, naturally, he was the best choice to serve as creative advisor to the luxury shoe line. For Rodriguez, iL FRATELLINO is his first fashion line after a successful career in fashion editorial and the creative marketing world. With the line, the duo aims to capture the wild adventurousness of the next-gen fabulous 20-somethings in the city.
“When conceptualizing this brand, I looked back at these wild weekends I had with my closest girlfriends,” Rodriguez tells Grazia Gazette: Hamptons. “We’d go out in Chicago and end up in Miami, then have to be back to the office by 9 a.m. on Monday. You never knew where any day or night would take you — and that was exhilarating. That’s what I would consider to be the DNA of iL FRAT.”
Rodriguez brings his luxe (night)lifestyle to life in a range of wearable, versatile, and — most importantly — fun mules, sandals, booties, stilettos, and sneakers. They’re ineffably cool across the board, with bold hues of pink, yellow, fuchsia, and a particularly stunning metallic high voltage blue. The most subtle styles still pack a statement, such as an oh-so-chic bootie with a polka-dot print or a heeled sandal in black with a high-gloss finish.
iL FRATELLINO embodies the very essence of luxury footwear — without the super-luxe price point. It was important for the Chicago natives to keep the price accessible to a young audience. In execution, that means prices ranging from $250 to $500. “It’s the same luxurious leathers, silks, and feathers you’d get from designer collections. We decided that Gen Z shouldn’t have to compromise being fabulous and making rent,” jokes Atwood.
So how to get your hands on a pair (or a few)? The new line will be available to purchase directly on the il FRATELLINO website in early June. We’d predict this collection will sell out fast, so mark your calendars.
