Professional Status: Member of the Chartered Society of Designers

Chartered Society of Designers
The CSD is the professional body for designers and the authority on professional design practice. With 3,000 members in 34 countries, it is the world's largest chartered body of professional designers unique in representing designers in all disciplines.


Formal Training

University of The Arts London, London College of Fashion
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at university, and look back with fond memories. The strength of my course was the combination of design as well as making processes for footwear, giving me a complete view of the industry. My relationship with the College did not end at my graduation. I have maintained a close relationship with many of the wonderful dedicated people who work there, who have guided and mentored me whilst building up my own business.
Whilst at University I was awarded student membership of the Chartered Society of Designers and also won a Travel Bursary from the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers.

Footwear Industry Training

John Lobb Ltd
It was a great honour to gain work experience at John Lobb Ltd, makers of the finest hand made to measure shoes and boots. They set the highest standards of both production and customer service in the industry. The opportunity to work alongside some of the finest craftsmen in the footwear industry helped to shape my plans for quality and ethics for my own business. Their on-going support and encouragement to me superbly demonstrates the integrity and strength of this fine company.

Freed of London Ltd
Freed of London is the shoemaker to the world of dance. I greatly value all the time that I spent with the excellent team of people of Freed of London. I learnt about making shoes that are comfortable, strong and yet elegant and fashionable. To see a large group of motivated people working together to produce excellent quality products has shown me how standards do not need to be compromised as scale increases. I am eternally grateful for their guidance and support.

Design for life

Shoes have always been my passion, not that this distinguishes me from most of the women I meet. My own collection of shoes is insignificant compared to the tales I hear from some acquaintances, of wardrobes brimming with every conceivable shape and colour of shoes, many un-worn in their original packaging.

My passion has taken me in a different direction. I always wanted to be a shoe designer, creating visions of beauty combined with exquisite craftsmanship. For me it was always about having one or two of absolutely the finest; quality over quantity every time.

My route into the business of shoe design started at Cordwainers College, part of the London College of Fashion. Many of my fellow students had a background in fashion or came from families established in the shoe-making industry. What I lacked in experience I made up for in passion and sheer hard work. After college and during my apprenticeship I learnt from many master craftsmen who can still be found practicing their trade in London if you were to look hard enough. With so many of our shoes being manufactured in high volumes in low labour rate countries around the world, there are very few people working in the UK making top quality footwear.

Today I use the skills I learnt to design bespoke shoes for ladies. The most important part of shoes designing is knowing how to translate a concept into a three dimensional model that can actually be made, and is comfortable to be worn. My job is to understand my client, and help them to develop a vision of the shoes they would like, gently guiding them in the direction of what is actually achievable given the properties of the materials from which the shoes can be made.


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