10 Jun 2020

Q&A with Sherene Headley, Founder of Mokkah

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

 https://twitter.com/mokkahshoes

To follow the Mokkah Crowdfund please visit:
https://natwestbackherbusiness.co.uk/mokkah-shoes-for-women-who-wear-larger-
sizes

 Vanity Afro, 10/06/2020


Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

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