This shoe is made for guarding
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SNAKE ALIVE: A real life Egyptian cobra guards a pair of ruby,
sapphire and diamond sandals by designer Rene Caovilla at
Harrods department store in central London. AFP |
LONDON: To their high society owners, a pair of haute couture shoes
can be a precious thing.
But to guard a 62,000 pound (US$120,000) pair of ruby- sapphire- and
diamond-encrusted Rene Caovilla sandals at their London launch, retailer
Harrods went to extreme lengths: bringing in a live Egyptian cobra to
patrol the shoe counter.
Whether hiring a poisonous snake is, strictly speaking, the most
effective means of guarding precious footwear might be a moot point with
security experts.
But it makes for a pretty effective photo opportunity.
A spokeswoman for Harrods admitted that the cobra had been hired
strictly for Monday’s launch of the shoe collection.
“The snake has now been returned to its owner,” she said.
So no need to fear snake bites at the shoe counter, then.
“Not unless you’re a burglar,” the spokeswoman said.
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