Young shoe designer Stephanie Dixon, is making waves by blending innovation with sustainability. Manufactured in Hong Kong, this visionary designer not only crafts exquisite footwear, but also ensures that each pair tells a story of ethical sourcing and environmental consciousness. By sourcing materials sustainably from China, Dixon is committed to reducing the industry's carbon footprint while celebrating the rich heritage of artisanal craftsmanship. With every step, this trailblazer is redefining what it means to walk the talk in sustainable fashion.
Who or what are your inspirations for creating your designs?
I am inspired by the shapes, colours and textures I see when I go travelling. Inspiration can come from anything: architecture, food, nature, the people that I meet etc. I also have differing foot types at the centre of my mind when I’m coming up with designs – I ensure that narrow, standard and wide feet can comfortably wear my shoes.
Creative expression can take many forms, what made you decide to start your own fashion brand?
Stephanie Jade was created for all the underrepresented women who have encountered problems with finding heels that are the perfect size. The shoes you wear can elevate your outfit massively but feeling good starts from how they fit.
I always struggled with finding heels that fit properly as I have wide feet. I often thought “Why isn’t there a brand that caters to women that have wide feet?” Wide-fit options are notoriously known for not being as stylish as the standard-sized shoe which is very frustrating.
The older I got and the more I spoke to other people, I realised this was an issue for women who had narrow feet too. This is when my eureka moment happened. An inclusive heels brand that caters to narrow, standard and wide feet. No one should ever be an afterthought or ignored. After all, women deserve gorgeous, comfortable shoes.
In your opinion, what are the most critical aspects of the fashion industry?
The first issue I have with the fashion industry is how popularised fast fashion has become. As consumers want to stay consider sustainable or ethical practices. This is a challenge when you’re trying to position yourself as a luxury brand because people are more sceptical to buy from your brand. Many consumers care more about price rather than the impact their buying choices have on the environment or the workers making the clothes.
Another critical aspect is how diverse the industry is. It is getting better, however, we still lack representation from underrepresented groups, whether that be brand owners, directors, CEOs or senior leadership in general. It is often who you know and not what you know. It also can feel like some brands have ‘diverse models’ in their campaigns to save face as their actual company structure isn’t diverse.
However, through the development of technology, it means that fashion can be displayed in interesting ways. For instance, the development of 3D clothing apps such as Clo-ed presents exciting opportunities for brand designers to showcase their work in different ways.
What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion for me is a way to truly embody what you feel on the inside in what you wear. It is more than just clothes and can often reflect political, economic, cultural, and societal changes. This is what I love about it. It is so much more than what meets the eye. I love how it is a tool that can instantly change your mood and how people perceive you. Fashion is always the moment and is a great way to artistically display who you are and want to be.
What do you believe are the essential elements needed to be successful as a fashion designer?
To be a successful fashion designer, you must have an open mind. You must see things beyond the physical. You have to stand for something, believe in something and ensure that is reflected in your brand. You need to understand your consumer and do regular research to make sure you are meeting their needs, wants and desires. Most of all, you have to believe in yourself, because there will be days that you don’t. Developing strong values helps with this and will allow you to realign your purpose if you ever get lost along the way.
Talk to us about the collection you showed at The W Fashion Week in September 2023, what inspired this collection?
The time I spent studying in Thailand made me realise a lot about myself and what I wanted Stephanie Jade to be, so it was only right my first collection was inspired by there. Each design takes influence from a different place I went to in Thailand as I wanted to show off the individual beauty in each shoe.
I lived in Bangkok as this is where my university was located. The capital is an interesting city that has beautiful architecture, one that is unique in design and showcases the cultural richness of the country.
Temples are gilded in gold, structures filled with beautiful patterns and shiny gems surround royal buildings. I wanted to translate this into a gold heel that would act as a showstopper for any occasion.
The ombre shoe was inspired by my time in the islands, more specifically Koh Samui. Imagine yourself on the beach, watching the sun go down as the day turns to night. The sky transitioning from pink to orange was a breathtaking view, capturing the attention of many. Gorgeous performers wore outfits consisting of sparkly embellishments, an element I wanted to incorporate in this heel.
A solo trip to Kanchanaburi, an area that is surrounded by greenery, was the inspiration behind the green shoes in my collection. Home to the infamous Erawan Falls, the Green Heel is an ode to the gorgeous natural environment on the outskirts of the capital.
What are your favourite trends?
There are so many fashion trends that I love at the moment, but if I had to choose, worker fashion is great. I am a huge fan of blazers, structural jackets, tailored trousers, and oversized shirts. I also love the maxi skirt trend. As someone who doesn’t like to wear short skirts all the time, maxi skirts are a good alternative, because they can be feminine, grunge or casual depending on how you style them. The final trend I like is off-the-shoulder clothing. I think it's great to show a bit of skin when you’re going out whether it’s a casual or dressy setting.
Do you wear your own designs?
Yes, I wear my designs all the time whenever I have an occasion that requires heels.
How would you describe your personal style?
I would describe myself as a minimalist. I love structured clothing. I love jackets. I love clean lines in clothing, monochromatic outfits, and anything that’s sleek and well put together even if it’s a casual outfit or more dressy. I wear a lot of denim, tailored trousers and blazers. I love accessorizing as I feel they can elevate an outfit to a new level.
What do you do to track trends and stay in touch with the current consumer?
I follow various fashion publications and commenters on all my social media, which includes Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. Whatever social channel I’m on, I always get regular updated fashion news. Also, when it is fashion week time, I like to watch the different designer collections to see the repeated motifs and what is obviously going to become a trend.
How would you describe your brand aesthetics?
I would describe my brand's aesthetic as clean, colourful, elegant and chic. Stephanie Jade is a brand for women who love to travel and like indulging in nice things. We feel very luxurious and like that friend you always feel has great style.
What was your biggest fear when going out and starting your own line?
My biggest fear was after all my hard work and my designs, people wouldn’t actually like my brand or appreciate all the details I put into it. It’s very easy as a designer to get lost in your own head and of course, love your work but ultimately there is that underlying fear that no one else will like it.
What is the typical design process like for your brand?
I wouldn’t say I necessarily have a specific process because I am inspired by everything around me, but because I like to travel often when I go on holiday, I will take pictures of anything I find interesting. From this, I’ll create a mood board and then pick out different elements I like to help me design a shoe that reflects where I’ve been. Once I’ve sketched a few designs, I’ll play around with colours, materials and heel height.
If you were not a fashion designer, what would you want to be?
One thing for certain is I would be working in fashion. I have loved fashion since I was about seven years old, so if I wasn’t a designer, I would have loved to be a fashion reporter, critic or fashion journalist. I’ve always liked the idea of reporting on fashion issues and fashion shows and creating meaningful content that would help people who aren’t well-versed in fashion to understand what’s going on.
What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work?
I’ve been really fascinated by the fashion weeks and see how the heart of every brand has its own identity. Creativity can exist in a multitude of ways and for me, it’s a constant reminder that no idea is ever too crazy or simple. You can be either side of the coin and you should never feel that your ideas aren’t viable. I feel that fashion week really highlights that anything is possible, and creativity is so subjective that someone will like what you create.
What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your own label?
The biggest lesson that I’ve learned since starting my brand is that no one is going to do it for you. You as an individual have to hold yourself accountable every single day because in the beginning, when you don’t have a lot of money, you have to do everything yourself. This includes designing, finding a suitable manufacturer, reaching out to different PR agencies or publications, marketing and creating content. There is an endless number of things to do, but you ultimately are on your own and you have to be the driving force behind everything. No manager or boss is telling you what to do. You have to allocate that work to yourself which has taught me entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. If you don’t have those kind of qualities or super organised, It’s going to be very difficult for you to have your own brand
What advice would you give to young designers?
My advice to young designers would be to travel and go to interesting places. Put yourself in situations that you wouldn’t usually be in because a lot of the time that’s where your inspiration comes from. In my case, I pushed myself to study in Thailand and I ended up having a whole collection inspired by what I saw. So really push yourself and the boundaries. Don’t ever think your ideas are too crazy or too big because often these ideas are the best. I would also say to surround yourself with a good support network. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to start my brand if I didn’t have the amazing people around me to continuously motivate me, give me ideas and help me think about things differently. Most importantly, I would say just have fun with it. Enjoy every moment, every process, every conversation because it goes by so quickly. You’ll blink and then all your hard work leads you to the point of launching your brand!
How do you choose your fabrics and where are they sourced from?
A lot of the time I choose my fabrics based on functionality and the mood that I’m trying to evoke. For instance, I’m in the process of designing some winter boots so naturally they would be made from genuine leather because I want them to be durable and made from a sustainable source. With my current collection, I wanted to give off luxury, elegance and sophistication so I chose a silky satin material.
What role do you think social media plays in fashion today?
Social media plays a huge role in fashion today because we have access to everything at once. It means that trends come and go very quickly. Fast fashion brands are then able to thrive from this by uploading new items to their site on a weekly basis. The consumer need has increased which means people want their products immediately and don’t value slower fashion, sustainable fashion, or made-to-order. You often see powerhouses such as Shein and PrettyLittleThing steal from smaller designers because they can simply search for a style, find a brand’s Instagram page, and replicate the products. They know they can steal from other people and not really face any repercussions because most independent brands can’t afford the legal fees.
Although there are some negatives, a positive is that if you own a brand, it is easier to get your name out there compared to maybe 15 years ago. If you have great marketing and content, people will eventually stumble across your brand and really see the value.
