Hiya Trivedi

Never believed that heels that were once created for male soldiers could hold such significance in a life of a 16 year old. I was 16 years old when I discovered my passion for shoe design, and it has been an integral part of my life ever since. It all started at an educational fair when I came across the University of Arts London's course booklet, which had a picture of a shoe on the first page. I immediately knew that I wanted to pursue a career in this field. That night, I stayed up watching documentaries on famous shoe designers, and my love for footwear design only grew stronger. After completing high school, I was thrilled to be accepted into the Bachelor's program for Footwear and Innovation at London College of Fashion. However, the pandemic forced me to change my plans, and I took advantage of the situation by enrolling in several online shoe design courses. I also interned at a manufacturing unit that produced thousands of shoes daily, where I gained invaluable industry insights. Later, I pursued an intensive shoe and accessories design course at Istituto Marangoni in Florence. This program allowed me to learn from industry specialists and gain expertise in researching, collection making, prototyping, designing, and pattern-making. My industry project with Paul Andrew helped me discover my niche - designing feminine, functional shoes that incorporate re-innovated designs using existing industry materials. I am excited to apply for the Choose Real Leather competition as it will provide me with the opportunity to grow further and make a significant impact in the footwear and accessories industry. I have a passion for re-inventing designs, and I want to share it with the world and I hope one day the fashion industry can make it a better place together.