American Duchess Brings History to Life Through Reproduction Shoes

RENO, Nev. - Sept. 10, 2013 - PRLog -- When Reno-based designer Lauren Stowell couldn't find the right shoes to wear with her historical costumes, she decided to make her own.  In late 2010, the blogger-turned-entrepreneur polled the readership of her blog, American Duchess, about the idea of old-fashioned shoes reproduced for modern comfort and sizing, and discovered a huge gap in the market.

"If I couldn't find the shoes I wanted, surely others weren't finding them as well," says Stowell, who invested an initial $250 and endless hours into developing a prototype pulling design cues from high heels over 200 years old.

After several months, American Duchess Company's first out-moded shoe was available to pre-order, and by the end of the three-week ordering period, over 230 orders had been collected from all over the world.  Stowell states, "My entire life had changed overnight."

Since the company's launch in 2011, American Duchess has produced over ten styles of reproduction historical shoes, stockings and accessories, ranging from the 17th century to the 1930s.  The eye-catching shoes and boots have been seen on stage and screen, appearing at the New York Metropolitan Opera, Ford's Theater, and on the hit TV show "Smash."  American Duchess' shoes also walk the streets of national historic sites such as Colonial Williamsburg and the Plimoth Plantation.

"It's a dream come true," says Stowell, who runs her business from her home in Reno, Nevada.  The designer continues to introduce new styles, with footwear from the Renaissance and Civil War periods planned for 2014.

More information about American Duchess Company can be found at:

Website: http://www.american-duchess.com/

Blog: http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanduchess (https://www.facebook.com/americanduchess?ref=hl)