NATASHA NORIE STANDARD Natasha Norie Standards path to designing luxury shoes was circuitous but steadfast. She was born in Indianapolis to supportive parents who encouraged her love for the arts and creativity. Her introduction to fashion was cultivated by her maternal grandmother, who showered her frequently with fashion/luxury gifts of quality and intricate, unique designs. When she ultimately purchased Natasha her first Vogue magazine at the age of 12, the world that she knew exploded with vibrant color, contrasts, and artistic concepts that precipitated the beginning of her life-long love affair with fashion. After years of service to the United States Army, Natasha recently retired as a Major in charge VIP missions, Special Operations, and airfield logistics. During deployments in Italy, Iraq, and Germany, Natasha spent her spare time immersed in the culture and arts venues that allowed her to gain valued design perspectives. In interim years, Natasha enrolled and attended historic Hampton University in Virginia to obtain her B.S. in Marketing, and holds a Master of Administration from Webster University. Upon retirement, she matriculated to earn a second master’s degree from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Natasha’s desire to design her own line continued to permeate her thoughts and plans. She was determined to move forward. Utilizing her logistics expertise, she spent a year after graduation working for a global conglomerate as a supply chain manager in order to understand the nuances of retail distribution. Having gained the insight and knowledge needed to navigate the current consumer market, she moved to Europe to train with experts in shoe makin from Arsutoria, a prestigious footwear development, and design school in Milan, Italy. Once she obtained her certificate her intent was to finally bet on herself and rollout her business model. All her years of training, talents, and expertise culminated in Natasha pursuing her dream of design.