Pumps with a past

Think your favorite pair of peep-toe heels is one-of-a-kind? What would you say to a pair made just for you ... from an authentic Japanese kimono?

Meet upstart British shoe designer Henrietta Rose Samuels, aka Hetty Rose, who has gained an international following since her Kimono collection appeared at last February's London Fashion Week.

The concept first came to Hetty while studying design in Japan, where she discovered the stunning, exotic prints of vintage kimonos. She scooped up as many as she could before returning to the U.K. and getting to work.

The current Hetty Rose collection consists of 12 styles, including the lovely "Amia" pictured here, and each pair takes about six weeks to cut and assemble.

"The collection is trans-seasonal," the designer recently told online magazine Fashion Capital, "and consists of signature peep-hole styles with hand stitching detail, simple silhouettes, and functional elegance. The uppers are all made using vivid vintage kimono fabrics; these are colourful, eye-catching and get you noticed."

Prices for an original pair of "Hettys" start at £300 (about $615). To find out more about Hetty and her collection, visit her website at www.hettyrose.co.uk.

(Hat tip: about.com: Beauty)