Which fashion house created the iconic red sole of Christian Louboutin shoes?

Christian Louboutin created the iconic red sole associated with Christian Louboutin shoes.

Louboutin began applying vivid red lacquer to the soles of his shoes in 1992 while working on an early collection. According to the designer’s well-known account, he felt that a black sole made one prototype look too heavy, so he used red nail polish from an assistant’s bottle to add energy and visibility.

The red sole became a defining visual signature of the brand. Louboutin later pursued trademark protection for the red sole in several jurisdictions, with the precise legal scope depending on the country and the use of contrasting shoe uppers.

The feature is sometimes casually called “the Louboutin red,” but the brand’s signature is not simply every red shoe sole. The design is specifically associated with the bright red lacquered outsole used on many Louboutin footwear styles.