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Designer Shoes & Handbags Made From Chocolate
A confectioner has created every woman’s ultimate fantasy – designer shoes and handbags made from chocolate.
Frances Cooley, a cake maker, launched the range after discovering a vintage chocolate shoe mould in Belgium.
She has developed a collection of individual shoes which she makes by hand in her own kitchen. Now Mrs Cooley, 47, who runs Clifton Cakes in Bristol, can barely keep up with demand despite the £21 price tag.
She said: ‘People are wowed by them because it’s the perfect gift for a woman – chocolate and stiletto shoes put together. They’ve been selling like hot cakes. This past year sales have been incredible.’
Mrs Cooley started her company ten years ago after leaving her career as a graphic designer to pursue her passion for sweets. The mother-of-two still heads the successful business from home, supplying more than 25 local boutiques and delicatessens.
To create the mouth-watering footwear she fills the mould with Belgian chocolate which shrinks slightly as it cools. She then pours out the excess and leaves the coated mould to set before finishing each shoe by hand with handcrafted frills and rosettes.
Now her unique designs have become so popular that they have garnered attention from high-end retailers in London – including luxury department store Liberty. She added: ‘A friend, who is a French chef, had a meeting at Liberty in London and he suggested that I accompany him in case they might be interested in selling my cakes. They were immediately interested in the shoes. About six months ago I got my first order from them.’
The shoes sell for between £8.50 for a small 8cm pair to £21 for a large 17cm single shoe. Their success inspired Frances to create a matching range of handbags which cost £9.50 for a small 8cm model and £25 for a 17cm version.
