Quality shoes are a woman's best friend

JAKARTA (JP): Today a perfect body and good clothes are not enough for a woman to look trendy. She needs proper shoes as well.

Pianella (a female Italian name) offers chic and quality shoes for women between the ages of 18 and 45. Their prices are quite affordable from Rp 175,000 to Rp 299,000 per pair.

Sania Makki, the company's director, said there are still no locally made shoes whose quality are comparable to foreign brands like Gucci, Prada, Bruno Magli and Charles Jourdan.

She said the company guaranteed that women could still appear fashionable and trendy with shoes that cost less than Rp 300,000.

Pianella's shoes must compete with the other 200 local brands to secure its market.

For this season, Pianella offers an interesting variety of ladies shoes including flats and high heels in a wide variety of colors.

Sania said in the first half of 2001, Pianella would be emphasizing on classic colors like brown, black and maroon," she said. In mid-2001, their shoe colors will likely shift from the classic to glittering gold and silver. The styles of the 1950s and 1980s will dominate next year's trend, she said.

Pianella has selected former top model Ria Juwita to promote its shoes.

"We have to open as many as outlets as possible throughout the country to reach our clients. This is also part our marketing strategy," said Sania when she opened Pianella's first outlet at the Pasaraya shopping center in Blok M, South Jakarta recently.

Pianella shoes are also available at several other malls including Supermal Karawaci, Galeria Matahari in Pasar Baru, Blok M Plaza and Diamon Fatmawati. (Sri Ramadani)