Sophia Grace Webster (born 18 March 1985) is a British shoe and accessories designer who launched her eponymous footwear line in September 2012.[1][2] She is renowned for a feminine, bold yet playful design approach which has led to distribution at over 200 retailers worldwide.[3]

Sophia Webster
Sophia Webster
Born (1985-03-18) 18 March 1985 (age 39)
South Africa
NationalityBritish
EducationLondon College of Fashion
LabelSophia Webster

As a teenager, Webster was a competitive dancer. She attended The Rochester Grammar School before going on to study art and sculpture at Camberwell College of Arts in London.[4] Realising she wanted to create shoes, Webster went on to Cordwainers' College at the London College of Fashion, and then studied for her MA at Royal College of Art.[4] Afterwards she worked as an apprentice with Nicholas Kirkwood before setting out on her own.[4] Footwear News named Webster the "Emerging Footwear Designer of the Year" of 2013, and she also appeared on The Times 2013 New Power List as someone to watch.[4] In 2014, Marie Claire named Webster as one of 7 designers who represented the future of British fashion.[5]

In 2013, Sophia Webster was awarded the British Fashion Award for Emerging Accessories Designer.[6][7]

Webster's shoes were selected as part of the Dress of the Year ensemble for 2013 at the Fashion Museum, Bath. Chosen by the fashion blogger Susanna Lau, the pink-and-black sandals with stiletto heels accompanied a Christopher Kane dress and hat by Nasir Mazhar.[8]

In June 2015 Webster's Riri shoe went on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum as part of their 'Shoes: Pleasure and Pain' exhibition.[9]

In March 2016, Sophia Webster was the recipient of the BFC Vogue Fashion Fund award. The fund helps support emerging British designers with financial support as well as mentoring from industry experts. In May later that year she opened her first official store on Mount Street Mews in Mayfair.[10] As of September 2016, Sophia Webster products were available through over 200 retailers around the world.[11] In June 2018, Sophia Webster opened her second boutique in Chelsea, London.

References edit

  1. ^ Donnelly, Erin (16 September 2013). "Sophia Webster Creates an 'Insect Slumber Party' for Spring 2014". ELLE. Hearst. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Sophia Webster Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Sophia Webster Designer Profile". London Fashion Week. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Hariella, Divia (4 March 2013). "The rise and rise of shoe designer Sophia Webster". South China Morning Post. SCMP Group. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  5. ^ Eden, Nellie (23 April 2014). "7 Scarily Talented Designers Who Are The Future Of British Fashion". Marie Claire. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd Fashion & Beauty Network. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  6. ^ Leitch, Luke (2 December 2013). "British Fashion Awards 2013: Kate Moss, Harry Styles and Christopher Kane take the crowns Bailey's double, Kane and Kate crowned, and Styles' style wins big – the 2013 British Fashion Awards results are in". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Kate Moss, J.W. Anderson, and Harry Styles Win British Fashion Awards". The Cut. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Sugar pink duct tape Christopher Kane creation is Dress of the Year at Bath Fashion Museum". Culture 24. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  9. ^ Howarth, Dan (11 June 2015). "V&A presents extreme footwear in Shoes: Pleasure and Pain exhibition". Dezeen Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  10. ^ "The Wonderful World Of Sophia Webster". Vogue UK. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Sophia Webster Designer Profile". London Fashion Week. Retrieved 3 November 2016.

External links edit