Raphael Young has a background that is almost as fascinating as his designs. Orphaned at birth in South Korea, he was adopted by a French family at age four. Summers were spent with an uncle, a bottier who worked for Yves Saint Laurent. It was here that he learned the traditional craft of shoemaking, and created his first pair at age 14. Rather than following his passion for design, Young instead studied physics and engineering to please his father. He then did a hitch in the Navy before finally deciding to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Young believes it is his varied background that makes his designs sing. As he says on his website, "I understand the importance of physics and mechanism, as well as art and sculpture. We all work with the same fundamentals when you break it down; balance, volume, density and lines of force."

And certainly, his designs are unlike anything being made by his peers. Young's shoes and boots have a sleek aesthetic most frequently associated with Japanese designers. They are futuristic--if David Bowie were still performing as Ziggy Stardust, these would be his signature shoes. Young's shoes have fascinating cut-outs and architectural sculpting the likes of which you won't see many other places. These shoes are meant to be statement pieces; wear them with basic black and simple silhouettes to keep the shoes at the forefront.

Young creates the prototype for each design by hand, from stitch to finish, just like his uncle taught him--something few shoemakers do anymore. This attention to detail, combined with his background in engineering, makes Young's shoes feats of architecture that, in another designer's hands, might be physically impossible to create. Young's shoes are not only wearable, they are comfortable.

Raphael Young, your old world craftsmanship combined with your futuristic aesthetic make you Character Approved.

[Images: MissMeghan.com, Fashionising.com, StilettoSyndicate.com, anOthermag.com, UrbanMogulLife.com]