- Words by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

Twenty years ago, serendipity laid its hand onto Jean Cardno鈥檚 life when it presented an opportunity to open a shoe store in Duncan. And Cardino鈥檚 Shoes was born.

Jean has dedicated the last two decades to making the business a success, and it鈥檚 clear her hard work paid off. Cardino鈥檚 Shoes is a coveted destination for both fashionable and high-quality footwear, with customers travelling from all over Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and farther afield to browse the selection.

鈥淚 understood the need for the right footwear,鈥� says Jean, a former nurse. 鈥淚鈥檝e never done high fashion for the sake of high fashion. I鈥檒l do high fashion and really well-made products. Some of the best shoes are made by small artisans in studios in Spain or Italy.鈥�

Driven by textures and colours, Jean loves to 鈥渓ook for the beautiful in things,鈥� which she freely admits can vary widely depending on the subject matter.

鈥淚 love colour intensities. I love roaming through places like Chintz and Company, and other places that still sell bolts of fabric.鈥�

A New Zealander by birth, she arrived 39 years ago to settle on Vancouver Island. But she still loves to travel. With one son locally, another in Australia and her daughter 鈥� the talented ethical clothing designer Eliza Faulkner 鈥� in Montreal, Jean loves to explore the neighbourhoods where her children live and work, and see the spaces through their eyes, always seeking the sublime.

The 7 Sins

ENVY:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Diane Von F眉rstenburg, an iconic fashion designer in the 鈥�70s who embraced feminism wearing a dress. And, who is still in business today.

GLUTTONY:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

Avocado on toast with a good flat white (coffee).

GREED:

You鈥檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

Well, I could never spend that much on myself, so I would share it.

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

Laziness.

SLOTH:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

On a beach, reading.

PRIDE:

What is the one thing you鈥檙e secretly proud of?

Cardino鈥檚 Shoes.

LUST:

What makes your heart beat faster?

Any shop or gallery full of colour, textures and designs that is well curated. It lifts the soul.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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