LOOK: This comfort-driven footwear expands globally with Alan Buanne as creative director
This 2026, Vivaia prepares for 130 stores worldwide with a new design lead for fall-winter 2026
From 75 stores worldwide in 2025, Vivaia continues to expand across the US, Europe, and Asia. As the brand prepares for its next stage of global growth, with plans to reach 130 stores worldwide, it has appointed Alan Buanne as creative director.
Alan Buanne
“It’s a privilege to join Vivaia at such a pivotal moment,” he shares. “The brand has built a remarkably loyal global following by delivering products that genuinely support women in their everyday lives. Women in their forties and beyond are approaching footwear with a level of intent that the wider category hasn’t fully reflected—until now.”
Vivaia’s goal is to elevate the brand’s aesthetic language while keeping qualities of comfort, integrity, and accessibility. Buanne joins this evolution by refining how footwear supports the body as a whole.
With informal podiatric training alongside his design background, he is looking at ergonomics more holistically by considering how women stand, move, and work. It’s intentional and practical, from developing silhouettes that better complement a range of skin tones to addressing the realities of long hours spent on one’s feet.
Equally important is Vivaia’s use of its materials. Known for incorporating recycled and ocean-plastic materials, the brand continues to communicate its sustainability commitments with purpose and transparency.
Expect refreshed store concepts this 2026, highlighting comfort with soft curves, rounded displays, warm wood tones, and streamlined shoe walls designed to create a welcoming, customer-centered experience. This includes local stores at SM Megamall Building B, SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta 4, and Power Plant Mall.
Alan’s first collection for the label will debut in fall-winter 2026—with the vision of refining the brand’s balance of design and comfort.