Mokkah, an affordable luxury
footwear brand for fashion-conscious women who wear larger sized shoes
(UK8-12). They are actively crowdfunding to launch their first collection, the
Noir Collection.
1. Where were you born and
currently live?
I was born and raised in London,
England and still reside here.
2. What does Mokkah stand for?
The name Mokkah came from me
brainstorming abstract names for my brand. I started thinking of brands like
Apple and Orange mobile and realised that the brand is what I make it. Mocha is
a colour – can be a mixture of brown, cream, nude in appearance, a colour I
find aesthetically pleasing and a go when choosing interior design combinations
– even my nails at the nail shop!
Mocha is my got to and felt it
was a nice extension of myself subtly incorporated into the brand. To remove
connotations of coffee and the colour, I reworked the spelling.
3. What were you doing before you
founded Mokkah?
I have a housing background. In
the past I worked at a Housing Association in Customer Service, at a University
within their Accommodation team and now at a London Council, within property
acquisitions where I rehouse homeless families.
4. Where are your shoes produced
and why?
My shoes will be produced in
Portugal. Portugal is one of the most respected countries for shoe production,
alongside Spain and the UK. I chose this particular manufacturer as they were
able to work with me on the small scale (a lot of factories have restrictions
of how low a quantity they will produce) and when I met them, our personalities
worked well together.
5. I think it’s a fantastic idea
that you created fashionable shoes for large feet. I am size 8 (Eu 41) and find
it a challenge to find stylish shoes that fit. Is there a reason that shoes
brands do not want to make large size shoes?
Thank you – it has been a
struggle for far too long! I think it’s an accompaniment of a few things, but I
feel the major one is a lack of understanding. Slowly but surely brands are
creating larger shoes but I do not think they realise how
much it’s needed! Also, it costs more to produce larger shoes due to the
materials and development cost – they don’t need to worry about this, when
making standard sizes.
6. Can you describe your
inspirations for the Noir collection?
As the Noir Collection was the
first, I very much wanted to create designs that were ‘safe’ – one for every
type of occasion and the universal colourof acceptance is black. I have an
occasion heel, a party heel, and a work heel as well as a work loafer and
casual dress down loafer.
These designs were based on my
own sense of style, what type of styles and designs I wish I had more access
to, along with popular shapes and styles in the market.
7. What constitutes a great shoe?
A great shoe is long lasting and
comfortable. A great design are both those things but also meets current
trends. Style, Fit and Quality are the pillars of our brand mission and it was clear
by the response to the surveys we carried out, that women within this cohort
are seeking all three.
8. How have you been adapting
your business during the coronavirus lockdown?
One of the biggest adaptions I
made during this period, was my way of thinking. As I’m not trading yet there weren’t
many changes to my way of working however the lockdown did mean a delay to my
samples!
We all hear the saying “don’t put
your eggs in one basket” but when it comes to business, you have to live by
this saying. When you are just starting up, you do not have much capital so you
can falsely think you have no choice but to – there’s always a choice. As I’m
working with a manufacturer in Portugal, I wondered what would happen if there
was a second spike there or if they couldn’t reopen, through brainstorming and
building connections I came across a small
workshop in the UK that could accommodate (should I need to change production).
9. Who is the woman you imagine
wearing Mokkah?
Our target customers are women
between the ages of 25 and 40 who love to keep up with current trends. They
like to dress smart casual, the shoes being the staple with a complimentary
bag.
10. Who are your favourite
designers from the footwear industry?
My favourite designers are Tamara
Mellon and Sandra Choi – LOVE their work!
Stay connected
https://www.instagram.com/mokkahshoes
https://www.facebook.com/Mokkahshoes
To follow the Mokkah Crowdfund
please visit:
https://natwestbackherbusiness.co.uk/mokkah-shoes-for-women-who-wear-larger-
sizes
Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X
