Originally from Bucharest, Kora came to New York City 10 years ago with an interest in furthering her goals as an artist. She earned an MFA from Parsons and studied shoe design at Fashion Institute of Technology. Ms.Mancini's journey into the shoe world began after her studies at FIT in 2006 when she answered a job posting for a shoe designer. It turned out to be a footwear designer job assisting Nathan Clark. He was looking for someone to help him design and make samples for 25 shoe designs. Her interview was a success. Nathan and Kora hit it off from the start and she was hired. Her first assignment was to help Nathan redesign his Chuplee shoe. After that success the pace was picked up, culminating in the completion of the 25 designs by the end of her tenure with Nathan. She worked with him for 5 years until his passing early this Summer. She declares with the utmost confidence that she has achieved a mastery in shoe design as well as shoemaking that is unparalleled by most other designers in New York as her apprenticeship with Nathan offered her the opportunity to learn from a great master designer.

Kora's exposure to Clark’s fine craftsmanship has inspired her to create her own line of fine footwear for women. In 2008 Ms. Mancini began work on a series of boot designs titled Korada. In the Winter of 2011 she exhibited the designs during NYC Fashion Week at The Armory on Park Ave, She’s currently working on a promotional campaign and manufacturing arrangement for Korada and opened up shop at her office in Nyc on 5th Ave.
"Cora makes shoes with speed and accuracy! Her energy is remarkable!" - Nathan Clark

Korada line is currently selling at Ruia, an exclusive new boutique in Soho at 65 Mercer Street. The mission at Ruia is to bring Europe’s finest, most exciting ladies' shoe designers to New York trendsetters. Most of their brands can’t be found at other shoe stores around New York ensuring that you’re not likely to face the horror of spotting someone else in them. Kora Mancini has become an exception to the boutique's European focus, demonstrating a resurgent respect for New York style and quality.

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