Happy new year! I thought I'd start 2026 with a little introduction (or a re-introduction if you've been here a while). You might know me for my wedding shoes, but did you know I kind of fell into the bridal industry?
My background is actually in all kinds of shoes. I started my career designing for a classic men’s brand (with a small women’s range), which I absolutely loved. I also spent time designing children’s shoes for Next which was a lot of fun- a brilliant design team and great people. Both jobs involved a lot of travel, to lots of different factories around the world.
Alongside this, I was hand-making bespoke shoes and it was there that I began to notice something interesting. Most of the commissions I received were for wedding shoes, and at the time there really wasn’t much out there. Brides wanted beautiful shoes they could actually wear and the options felt limited.
Eventually I took the leap. Partly because I spotted a genuine gap in the market, and partly because I’d just worked for a truly horrible boss. I was hired to help create a high-end women’s brand from scratch. People loved the shoes, but the pricing strategy was completely wrong, so the venture flopped. I remember thinking, I can do this on my own and decided to go it alone.
People have always loved my shoes for their versatility. They’ve never really been just wedding shoes. Over the last couple of years, that’s become even more true as I’ve introduced more everyday and occasion styles, including my very first boot collection.
So much has changed since I launched my business. Social media didn’t even exist back then (old, much?), and while there are definitely days when I wish it wasn’t such a big part of the job now, the upside is the community. I get to talk to you, hear your stories and feel genuinely connected to the people wearing my shoes.
What hasn’t changed is how I design. My shoes are design-led, not trend-led. They’re made for real life- to be worn again and again and to work across multiple occasions rather than sitting at the back of your wardrobe.
As I look ahead, I’m having a quiet reset for the year to come. No huge changes. No unachievable goals. Just a more intentional effort to enjoy the everyday- to work hard, but also make time for the important stuff.
What are you taking into 2026? Let's make it a good one.
Love,
Rachel xx