Esska

ESSKA

Esska is a footwear brand based in London, England. It was founded by Souraya Karami in June 2006. The name Esska was formed through the French phonetic pronunciation of Souraya's initials S = ESS and K = KA. Since its launch Esska has become known globally for its stylish and unique designs. It is currently sold through fashion stores and boutiques in over 16 contries. The company is privately owned by Souraya and her husband.

History

Souraya Karami, the founder and designer behind Esska, originally trained (at the American University in Beirut) and worked as an architect in the Middle East before studying footwear design at the renowned Cordwainers in London (part of the London College of Fashion). It was Souraya's wish to see her creations transformed quickly into finished products along with a passion for shoes that led her into footwear design. Souraya believed there was a real lack of footwear for confident women who placed equal importance on comfort, beauty and style. This became the founding philiosphy behind her brand.

Ideology

Souraya's dream was to make shoes that were feminine, comfortable, and not over designed. This is now defines Esska’s footwear collections and the brand has become known for unique style, clean lines, dominant shapes, organic silhouettes and a bold use of colours.

As a former architect Souraya's inspiration comes from the urban fabric around her from streets, crossings and intersections to buildings and structures.

Products

Esska currently produces women’s footwear and its range includes flat shoes, shoes with heels, sandals and boots. Esska’s products have a strong visual identity and always use bold, strong and interesting colours.

References

1. A blog about Esska 1 2. An interview with Souraya 2 3. Esska official site 3