Swarovski reinvents Cinderella’s glass slipper for Disney’s 100th anniversary

Cinderella, and of course her glass slipper, is synonymous with the Disney brand. So, it comes as no surprise that the crystal expert Swarovski is joining forces with The Walt Disney Company – in celebration of its 100th year – to create a crystal rendition of the character’s glass relic.

The year-long celebration of the company’s 100-year legacy of storytelling is commencing with brand activations taking place across the world. Disney has invited a host of the world’s most renowned creative visionaries and next-generation talent from the worlds of fashion, film, music, and art to contribute Disney-inspired pieces in support of the Make-A-Wish charity.

Swarovski’s Global Creative Director, Giovanna Engelbert, will contribute a replica of the solid crystal slipper created for Disney’s 2015 Cinderella live-action film. Created by craftspeople at the Swarovski headquarters in the Austrian Alps, Cinderella’s slipper is the perfect piece to commemorate Disney’s light-filled legacy.

The new and upgraded slipper features 221 facets and is rendered from solid Aurora Borealis crystal, which possesses unique reflective properties. It took a team of eight expert technicians 150 hours to make.

Giovanna Engelbert commented: "I am honoured to participate in this global celebration of creativity and emerging talent.

"What inspired me to recreate Cinderella’s iconic crystal slipper for Disney100 is the name of the charity and the idea of a wish. And of course, the slipper is the most famous shoe in the world. It is transformative and full of magic, so it was the perfect way to unite the world of Swarovski with the world of Disney."

Swarovski’s longstanding collaboration with Disney dates back to 2005 when the house created six crystal figurines of Disney’s most beloved characters - Mickey Mouse and the rest of the original clan. To continue the celebrations, Swarovski is set to launch its Disney100 x Swarovski collection of jewellery and home décor products later this year.

This follows the recent news that Swarovski has made a sparkling return to Liverpool with a new concept storeat Liverpool ONE. The 2,000 sq ft retail unit on Peter’s Lane follows the globally renowned brand’s new ‘WonderLUX’ store concept - an immersive luxury retail experience.