Freya Rose London design shoes that empower. The sort of shoes that, when slipped on, make every impossibility suddenly possible. In a pair of Freya Rose London’s signature mother of pearl pumps, you stand taller, you stand stronger and you stand in style. And brides, what more could you want from the shoes that are going to take you down the aisle than that!?
Comfort you say? Well it’s not a question of whether these are comfortable, it’s how comfortable. “The soft leather and memory foam lining of each shoe – alongside the mother of pearl block heels for a number of my designs – offer brides a statement wedding shoe without having to compromise on comfort,” Freya confirms.
But beyond the comfort, beyond the aesthetic, it is in fact behind the scenes where this brand shines brightest. “After graduating and working for a couple designers, I travelled to find artisans that could translate my innovative jewelled heel designs.” Since then, Freya Rose has been designing to not only showcase and celebrate the unique craftsmanship of the artisans she works with, but also to preserve these ancient crafts that are seemingly becoming more and more endangered.
If you’ve already picked up a copy of Your Day’s new autumn issue (if not, here’s your cue to head to your nearest stockist!), you’ll see we sat down with Freya Rose herself to hear just how she went from starting out with a £3,000 loan from The Prince’s Trust to one of the most sought after accessory aficionados – coveted by the likes of the Kate Moss and the Princess of Wales. Read the full interview here…
What does Freya Rose London offer?
“I’m passionate about creating unique collections that incorporate my knowledge of fine jewellery to create sculpturally elegant, wearable works of art that transcend the boundaries of design. I focus on designs that are timeless yet contemporary, and use precious materials such as mother of pearl, brass and sterling silver to create luxurious shoes and accessories that will become heirloom pieces.”
What do you love about working with mother of pearl?
“I’ve always loved mother of pearl and its iridescence, colours and intriguing aesthetic. It brings such depth to a design. But on a more spiritual level, it is also believed that mother of pearl offers soothing, protection from negative energy and love.”
What type of bridal looks do your designs suit?
“When designing my collections I always consider the timelessness of my designs. Because of this, I find my shoes and accessories lend themselves beautifully to almost every bridal style. Some complement boho themes, others are perfectly classic and work for traditional church weddings. There really is a style for all brides wanting to express their individual personality, even those opting for an alternative look with perhaps a boot or different hue.”
What are your favourite pieces for brides?
“Alongside my all time favourite styles, Freya and Glory, which I designed for my own wedding, my new Chelsea Collection which launched earlier this year boasts some of my favourite bridal pieces. Take the Fefe Bloom style, for example, in blue or champagne – a beautiful soft elegant satin court shoe featuring our signature jewelled pearl heels.”
“As for jewellery and accessories, our Athena Ivory Mother of Pearl bag is a firm favourite of mine and many of our customers, as are the Hand Carved Mother of Pearl Rose Drops – a show-stopping addition to a bridal look.”
What type of heel do you recommend for brides?
“I believe this is unique to each bride; a personal decision guided by what one gravitates towards and feels best suits their personality and overall bridal aesthetic.”
Where are your pieces made?
“I’ve always been proud to work with families rather than factories for our jewellery and mother of pearl heels. On my latest trip to Bali to visit our artisans, I was fascinated to discover that not only are our pieces handcrafted by local artisans, but each and every one of the techniques used has a specialist jeweller that is dedicated to that specific craft.”
“I’ve always been proud to work with families rather than factories”
Freya Rose
“Some of our pieces that feature multiple intricate techniques will be a labour of love handcrafted by as many as three specialist artisans – a truly unique celebration of artisanal talent. With craftsmen from Sumba Island to Java to Bali, I design knowing we’re preserving craftsmanship that has been loved for many years and is the heart and spirit of countless communities.”
What’s been your favourite craft you’ve discovered during your travels?
“The intricate work around mother of pearl will of course remain one of my favourites as it’s a key signature of Freya Rose London and what propelled me on my journey to find the artisans I work with today.”
“Secondly, whilst visiting our artisans I discovered a rare East Indonesian weave technique that only one of our jewellers can create. I was deeply inspired by the beauty in the intricacies of woven wire jewellery and instantly resonated with the idea that the woven nature of the craft represents the power in women supporting women.”
“At the time of discovering this technique, I was designing a collection to support The Prince’s Trust’s #CHANGEAGIRLSLIFE campaign and was deeply inspired to champion the craft within the collection – the concept behind the weave is beautifully fitting to the message the jewellery embodies; whilst the weave is light, delicate and feminine, it holds such strength, reflecting how women are stronger together.”
What does sustainability mean to Freya Rose London?
“Sustainability is hugely significant to me and my brand; I’m a big advocate of slow fashion. Ethically produced designs, the provenance and traceability of the materials used in my designs, and the people I work with are integral to my business philosophy. Coming back to my signature mother of pearl – this material is actually in abundance as a mollusk doesn’t always create a pearl and the shell can be disregarded.”
“Due to globalisation, it has been more difficult to source the required talent to craft my designs as there are only a few figures left trained in traditional jewellery making. Therefore I’ve decided to fund women in Bali to train in indigenous craft making, to help preserve these precious skills.”
What’s next for Freya Rose London?
“2023 is looking to be – and has already been – exciting, with plans for growing our global presence. Earlier this year my team and I ventured to Bali, South Korea and Dubai on various business missions. We joined forces with couture house Millia London on a London Fashion Week event and have exciting collaborations in the pipeline.”
“I’m also pleased to be able to devote more time to giving back to two female focused initiatives that I’m immensely passionate about – The Prince’s Trust #CHANGEAGIRLSLIFE campaign that I mentioned; and I’m also in the process of setting up my own initiative which will focus on preserving and growing the ancestral craftsmanship utilised within my designs, whilst supporting the talented women in Bali that bring my intricate jewelled designs to life.”
“Collections wise, we’re expanding on our unique jewelled clutch bags and jewellery collections which have been hugely popular since launching just over a year ago. I feel excited about all the opportunities that have presented themselves to me over the past year, and I look forward to sharing new designs and developments for Freya Rose London with you in the near future.”
Photography by Zach & Grace and David Christopher Photography
Discover the full Freya Rose London collection here
For more on bridal fashion and accessories, head back to Your Day
