Picture the scene: a tiny Aladdin’s Cave of a vintage shop, in the late 2000s. A pair of original 1920s Mary Janes. I want you to feel the same way about your shoes as I did when I found that gorgeous pair. The material, the craftsmanship, the elegant art-deco design: that’s what shoes are meant to be, and that’s what I want for you too.
From handmaking bespoke commissions on two leather sewing machines in a shed at the bottom of my garden, to designing shoes for brands like Next, to touring countries like Thailand, India, Portugal, South Africa, Italy and Spain as a freelancer, my fascination with shoes has taken many forms.
It all culminated in Rachel Simpson Shoes, after I’d grown disillusioned with the copycat culture of bigger brands. I wanted people to know that it wasn’t too much to ask to have beautiful shoes that didn’t hurt your body or your bank balance!
You deserve to wear beautifully made, beautiful-looking shoes everyday
Originally known as a bridal shoe brand, and as regular fixtures at New York, Barcelona and Paris Bridal Fashion Weeks, Rachel Simpson is now known for shoes for all occasions. My shoes are designed to be comfortable enough to wear all day, whether for your wedding, a day at work, or a day of odd jobs.
One of the keys to good, versatile shoe design is balance, and this idea of balance runs through everything I do.
It’s a balance of aesthetics and engineering (which is what drew me to shoe design in the first place). It’s a balance of vintage touches, with modern wearability. And it’s a balance of beauty and comfort without compromise.
It’s my name on the door, and my name on the bottom of the emails – I’m here to answer your questions and make sure we find the perfect fit for you.
When I’m not chatting with customers or researching new designs, you can usually find me cooking, spending time with my family, or travelling with my husband’s band (sometimes, if I’m really lucky, I’ll be doing something that combines all three!)
