Hero shoe brand Robert Clergerie has signed on the dotted line of a footwear deal with irreverent French fashion powerhouse Sonia Rykiel.

It’s an exciting step forward – if you’ll pardon the pun – for both brands, which are undergoing something of a sea change at the moment: Rykiel under the new artistic direction of Geraldo Da Conceicao, Clergerie under that of Roland Mouret.

‘I am very happy to be able to associate the name of Robert Clergerie with the relaunch strategy of Sonia Rykiel,’ commented Eric Langon, CEO of Sonia Rykiel, in a statement released today. ‘Their expertise will be an important advantage for our creative overhaul and international development.’

President of Robert Clergerie, Eva Taub, added: ‘We are honoured to have our ateliers and our savoir-faire at the service of a French brand which is so dear to many women and to contribute to the success of Sonia Rykiel’s expansion.’

The licensing deal will kick in next season, for s/s 2014.