Amy Barnes is more than just a footwear enthusiast, she lives and breathes shoes. Having cut her teeth in the industry working for multiple prestigious footwear brands across the globe, it was a natural leap for Barnes to become the head of footwear and accessories or the iconic R.M.Williams. As someone who is both led by women and a leader of women, FQ caught up with the creative ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8th, to find out more about how she’s making her mark on the fashion industry.
Q&A with Amy Barnes:
Can you tell us about your journey in the fashion industry and how you arrived at your current position as the Head of Footwear and Accessories Design at R.M.Williams?
I’m proud to have trained at the prestigious Cordwainers footwear college at University of the Arts London, and since then my career has taken me from the UK to Australia, connecting with artisans all over the world to bring my designs to life. I’ve previously designed for a number of global fashion and footwear brands including Kurt Geiger, Arcadia Group, Bloch, Beau Coops, Saba, Camilla, Sass & Bide and Carla Zampatti before landing in my current role at R.M.Williams in June 2022.
As a woman in a leadership role, what inspires and motivates you in your daily work?
I’m passionate about creating meaningful products, and championing the age-old craft of shoemaking which is still alive and well, right here in Australia. I’m fortunate to work with passionate and humble people from every corner of the business and know we all feel a sense of collective privilege to be on this journey with such a celebrated heritage brand.
Who are some female leaders in the fashion industry or beyond that you look up to, and how have they influenced your approach to leadership?
Our chief product and design officer Rachel Allen is about as good as it gets when it comes to a female leader in the fashion Industry. Rachel is creative, nurturing, and honest. There needs to be more women lifting other women up as she does.
Another incredible female leader in the Australian fashion industry is Michelle Pacey; I had the privilege of working for Michelle at Saba many years ago now. Michelle had just had twins, moved countries and landed a GM role. She showed up with grace, integrity and grit.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in a leadership position, and how have you overcome them?
It’s a constant learning process and it takes a lot of self-reflection. I’m very used to rolling my sleeves up and getting into everything, however leadership is about giving others the space to grow and learn, and taking the time to coach them.
I have had to learn to get comfortable holding my own and presenting to people of all levels within businesses, whether it’s pitching an idea to a CEO or presenting the latest collection to the entire team!
How do you approach the design process for footwear and accessories, and what role does innovation play in your creations?
The creative process involves a careful balance of looking back and looking forward. We have to learn from what has come before and work out how we evolve; what would our customers want. We then establish what is coming in the future, be it trends for shape, materials, colour and trims and how is that relevant to the brand.
We innovate with new last shapes to address the changing demands of our customers’ lives and their evolving tastes. Leathers and materials change with advances in technology and sustainability. At R.M.Williams, we trial and develop new things while staying true to the craftsmanship of goodyear welted footwear. The modern woman demands a lot from products and when it comes to footwear – comfort cannot be compromised. We have evolved the women’s range with more styles, new lasts, new leathers and seasonal colours so there is more variety than ever, but remain grounded in our foundations of superior craftsmanship and creating timeless products that serve a functional purpose.
Can you share a particularly rewarding moment or project that stands out in your career?
You never really get over seeing someone wearing products that you have had a part in creating. The fact that someone has spent their hard-earned money on something you lovingly crafted makes for great job satisfaction.
In your experience, how has the fashion industry evolved in terms of recognising and valuing women’s contributions in leadership roles?
In my experience, there has always been a representation of women in leadership roles in the fashion industry, but that certainly has grown in recent years. At R.M.Williams, we’re proud to have so many women in leadership positions, and to be a part of a business that truly champions gender equality.
For aspiring designers, especially women, what advice do you have for building a successful and fulfilling career in the fashion industry?
- Learn your craft, a good designer knows how things are made.
- It takes time, every experience will be of value to you in some ways.
- Sometimes an important part of the process is learning what you don’t want to do.
- Listen and be humble.
How important is mentorship in your journey, and do you actively engage in mentoring aspiring designers?
My role as a creative leader at R.M.Williams involves coaching the team on a daily basis. This feedback and reflection is important for development at all levels of our team and business. I don’t have a formal mentor but I’m continuously learning from my experiences here and am fortunate that there are many female professionals in my network of friends that I can lean on for support and advice.
All imagery: supplied.
