Nicolas Zuñiga is easily one of the coolest teenagers ever! Based in Columbia, Nicolas started designing shoes at the age of 14 and has dreams of seeing his creations on the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Daphne Guinness. We had to know more about this 15-year-old so we chatted with Nicolas to find out what he’s all about.

Q: We hear you are only 15! When did you decide you to be a shoe designer?

A: Yes, I am actually 15-years-old and well, that’s a long story! Since I was young I have loved shoes and almost every Christmas instead of asking for a bike or an Action toy, I would ask for a pair of shoes. About a year ago I started developing millions of ideas; shoes of all kinds, colors and shapes. I started drawing and  before I knew it I had drawn tons of sketches and I said to myself, “You know Nicolas, you should be a massive designer.”  Then I told my dad what my dream was and he and the rest of  my family supported me by encouraging me to produce the the shoes I designed.

Q: Who are your biggest influences?

A: Well that’s a tough one you know, my shoe creations started to be influenced when I saw Lady Gaga‘s Alejandro music video, when she appeared with the Noritaka Tatehana white shoes with the latex outfit. Since then, I started researching about heel-less shoes then I got to know Alexander McQueen and designers such as as Mugler and Natacha Marro.  So my biggest influences are Noritaka Tatehana, Nina Ricci, Mugler, Louboutin and Natacha Marro.

Q: Can you explain to us the process of behind creating the shoes?

A: Well, first I do about 10 sketches each time with little changes in the designs, when its ready, I start the modeling processes which consist of creating the real shape of the shoes, then setting up which is where you stitch the cut leather together on a false foot and finally you place the bottom of the shoe.

Q: What celebrity would you love to see wearing your shoes?

A: Oh, that’s a dream of mine. Actually it is one of my biggest and most wanted dreams.  I would die for Lady Gaga to use my creations because she would be the perfect celebrity to carry the message I want to transmit through my shoes. I would also love Beyoncé and public figures as Daphne Guinness to wear my creations.

Q: How did you learn how to design shoes at such a young age?

A: My father has always says I am an autodidact person because I started teaching myself how to design. I really think I perfect my designing skills by seeing other people’s creations and with the time I have used and spent in the shoe designing process.

Q: What’s your favorite style of shoe?

A: Honestly I don’t have favorite style of shoe because I design concerning the things that inspire me in the moment, or what’s happening to me in the moment.  But in terms of design I prefer the heel-less style or the thick heel.

Q: How do people react when you tell them your only 15 years-old and a shoe designer?

A: Most of the people don’t believe they are my creations which is actually really funny because the most common reaction is “How the hell do people walk in that!?”  For them is unbelievable that such a normal kid like myself can do this kind of stuff.

Q: What’s next for you in the future?

A: In the future, I aspire to study art because it is such a huge field were I can get inspired throughout different things and acquire a more specific view of design. Then I hope to graduate as a fashion designer because I also design clothing although I haven’t create any yet. I would like to have a huge fashion empire, with departments: couture, shoes, and clothing. But as I said before my biggest aspiration right now is to have Lady Gaga wear my shoes so people can get to know them and get to know me. One of my dreams has been already become true: to be published in a fashion blog and which better than Tres Dope!

Q: So where can we get a pair of your awesome shoes?

A: That’s an easy one, you can contact me through my Twitter account @zunigashoes, through my blog or email me. You can then decide which shoes you like or you can even tell me how you’d like them and I’ll design them just for you and send them to your door.