How American Brand Zena Ziora’s Handcrafted Italian Shoes are Redefining Luxury Footwear

Offering timeless, classic designer shoes with a fresh, original flair, Zena Ziora is a Maryland-based brand founded in 2022 by up-and-coming luxury shoe designer, Chiso Osuji. With the partnership of a traditional, family-run Italian atelier, Osuji’s eye for style and innovation has birthed a collection of sleek designer heels, displaying a fusion of elegance, sophistication and modern style.

Osuji’s passion for footwear began with a transformative experience when she bought her first pair of Italian-made knee-high boots with her first paycheck. This pair, cherished to this day, sparked her love affair with high-quality, well-crafted shoes, taking Osuji from a casual shoe admirer to a luxury shoe designer.

Each pair of Zena Ziora shoe is masterfully handmade by talented artisans in Marche, Italy, where the brand’s devotion to quality and craftsmanship are brought to life. Its distinctive signature is the incorporation of delicate Spanish Mallorca pearls, which add an air of timeless and refined elegance to its fresh and modern silhouettes.

The Folklore spoke to Chiso Osuji the Zena Ziora woman, balancing craftsmanship with fashion-forward design and the importance of building a brand community.

Can you tell us a bit about the woman you design for, her personality and sense of style?

Zena Ziora is for tastemakers, quite literally. The woman who sets trends and is always one step ahead of the game. She appreciates classic elegance but also loves to make a bold statement in line with her individuality. In everything she does, she’s a standout and naturally commands attention without necessarily having to be the loudest in the room.

That being said, I don’t believe she limits herself to one distinct style. She’s eclectic and understands how just one statement piece — like a pair of Zena Ziora heels — is more than enough to knock a look out of the park.

You’ve mentioned your own transformative experience with a pair of Italian boots. How do you aim to translate that feeling into your designs for others?

Up until that point, I was a casual shoe admirer. I liked the way shoes looked solely based on design but I never had a pair that was particularly amazing quality nor did they last more than a season or two without needing some type of repair. That pair of Italian boots quite literally changed my life. I felt like I had finally arrived; not only did the boots look good but they also felt good. For the first time ever, my shoes caused a 17-year-old me to walk with a little more pep in my step.

I want our designs to evoke that same sense of empowerment and transformation for our wearers — to be more than just footwear, but rather a source of confidence and self-expression. This means paying meticulous attention to every detail, from the silhouette and materials to the construction and finishing touches. It’s about crafting shoes that not only look beautiful but also feel luxurious and comfortable to wear. Ultimately, my goal is for every person who wears Zena Ziora shoes to experience that same transformative feeling, the feeling of stepping into a pair of shoes and feeling like they can take on the world with confidence and style.

You partner with a traditional Italian atelier. How has this collaboration shaped the brand’s identity and the manufacturing process?

When I first started Zena Ziora, I knew I wanted our brand to be produced by the best of the best, the experts if you will. We produce in the luxury shoe capital of the world. This collaboration brings together centuries-old craftsmanship and modern innovation, which is one of our cornerstones. The expertise and attention to detail of our Italian artisans is at an unparalleled level. Additionally, working with a traditional atelier allows us to uphold ethical manufacturing practices while supporting local artisans and preserving traditional craftsmanship. This commitment to authenticity and heritage resonates with our tastemakers, who value the artistry and heritage behind each pair of Zena Ziora shoes. Our partnership also enables us to maintain strict quality control standards throughout the manufacturing process, ensuring that every pair of shoes meets our standards of excellence.

Your use of Mallorca pearls is a distinctive touch. Why pearls, and how do they embody the Zena Ziora spirit?

I’m a June baby and pearls are my birthstone. Pearls have a reputation for being boring and dated, but I vehemently disagree. I wanted to show that while they’re classy, sophisticated and elegant, they can also be extraordinarily sexy, edgy and even fresh (hence the “pearl necklace” detailing). These are not your grandmother’s pearls!

How has your personal journey with footwear influenced the brand’s aesthetic and overall mission?

After my transformative experience with my first pair of designer shoes, I became such an avid collector and connoisseur of luxury footwear, particularly high heels. I came to appreciate what goes into a well-crafted heel and learned very quickly that while an outfit could be simple, a pair of heels could really make all the difference. I wanted to create styles that were timeless yet memorable and instantly eye-catching. I really wanted to push the boundaries of what’s typically possible in footwear and use those elements in a fun and non-traditional way.

That being said, I didn’t want to create something pretty that wouldn’t last long before needing repair. All of this informed Zena Ziora’s “cut no corners” philosophy and really cemented our mission of being meticulous and detail oriented to ensure that we were giving our wearers nothing less than the best.

Growing up, I also experienced a lot of frustration finding cute footwear as someone with a larger shoe size and so my personal journey has reinforced the belief that luxury should be inclusive. Zena Ziora is not just about creating beautiful shoes for a select few; it’s about empowering every woman to feel confident, stylish, and comfortable in her own skin. Our mission is to democratize luxury footwear, offering exceptional quality and craftsmanship at a size range that is accessible to a broader audience.

Can you walk us through your creative process, from the initial spark of an idea to selecting materials and finalizing a shoe design?

I’m constantly inspired by things around me. Places, muses, art, music and textures. When I’m inspired, I’ll jot it down in my notebook and start to make a mood board surrounding that particular theme. These mood boards can take days, weeks and on occasion, sometimes even months because I’m such a strong believer in iterating upon your ideas; your first idea is not always your best one.

In these mood boards, I’ll add pictures or swatches of textures and colors that speak to me that really align with the theme and I’ll then start to sketch. I’ll always naturally want to try to create something super artistic, but thanks to my engineering background and amazing production team, we’ll work through it to find a solution that maintains its aesthetic integrity and serves its purpose as a functional piece.

Your debut collection is named for the important women in your life. How does this personal connection inform your design choices?

My capsule collection is deeply rooted in personal connection, as it’s named after the important women in my life: my mom, my great aunt, and both grandmothers. These remarkable women epitomize the essence of the Zena Ziora woman — they are trendsetters and natural standouts, exuding confidence and grace effortlessly. They’ve left indelible marks on everyone they’ve met, having been revered for their impeccable sense of style and innate elegance.

I’ve crafted each design in the collection around classic silhouettes with a pop of something special, mirroring the timeless elegance and individuality embodied by these women who have influenced me and so many others. I wanted to really honor their legacy while empowering women to embrace their own unique style and confidence. Ultimately, this personal connection informs every aspect of my design choices, ensuring that each pair of Zena Ziora shoes is not just footwear, but a tribute to the remarkable women who inspire us all.

You have a strong commitment to made-to-order production. Can you elaborate on the values driving this choice and how it benefits the customer?

Our commitment to made-to-order production is rooted in our core values of sustainability, quality, and customer satisfaction. By embracing this approach, we prioritize responsible consumption practices, reduce waste, and ensure that each pair of shoes is meticulously crafted to meet our standards.

One of the key values driving our made-to-order production is sustainability. In an industry notorious for its environmental impact, we want to minimize our footprint by producing only what is needed, when it’s needed. This eliminates excess inventory and reduces the amount of deadstock that ends up in landfills, contributing to a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.

Additionally, made-to-order production allows us to maintain uncompromising quality control standards throughout the manufacturing process. Each pair of shoes is handcrafted by skilled artisans, using the finest materials and construction techniques. This attention to detail ensures that our customers receive footwear of exceptional quality, durability, and comfort, making every purchase a worthwhile investment. It’s a win-win for both our customers and the planet.

How do you achieve the balance between meticulous craftsmanship and contemporary, fashion-forward design?

A lot of iteration and a lot of compromise! Shoes are interesting in the sense that not only are you worried about aesthetics, but they also have to be functional and equipped to withstand a lot. You have to account for gravity, subway grates and uneven terrain, so it’s a very complex space. It seems tough as a creative to have to give up art for the sake of function, but as a brand that’s customer-focused at its core, we had to keep a level of empathy for our wearers at the forefront.

My first collection took two-and-a-half years from start to finish because of all the considerations we had to make to really ensure our wearers would be comfortable.

You mention that Zena Ziora is for tastemakers. How do you plan to foster a community around the brand?

When I say that Zena Ziora is for the tastemakers, I really mean it. And what do tastemakers do best? Set the stage for what’s hot! As a brand, I really want to bring our customers into the design process to inform our future designs, collections and re-releases. We’re constantly collecting real feedback and it doesn’t go into an abyss. It directly impacts major brand decisions that we make.

I engage with our community authentically and want to bring everyone along for the ride — I’ve been quite transparent with my journey in building Zena Ziora as a current Wharton MBA student. I also want to create more touchpoints through brand activations and pop-ups — giving people the opportunity to interact more closely with our collections. I want wearers to feel a sense of ownership over the brand, because this brand is theirs just as much as it is mine!

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