MINNA PARIKKA — Stefano Casarola

“My designs are like love letters from one shoe lover to another. Life is too short to take style too seriously.”

Minna Parikka while working on her designs. From: minnaparikka.com

Minna chose the world of shoe design at the age of 15. She moved to England at 19 to pursue a degree in footwear design, spending the next six years living, working and finding inspiration in London, Milan and Barcelona. In 2005 she returned to her native Helsinki. Here she launched the Minna Parikka brand and in November 2012 she opened her first shop. Minna’s love of footwear is based on the fact that shoes – unlike clothes – don’t have to be inhabited by a body in order to look attractive. When they’re beautiful in their own right, and then a woman steps into them – that’s when the magic happens. The right shoes can change how she looks, feels and is seen by others. Minna’s shoes are crafted in Spain with unparalleled attention to detail. The signature MP look and feel is achieved by using only the finest Italian and Spanish leathers and all the components from sole to shoe lace come from the best suppliers in Europe. Currently her designs are sold in 25 different countries globally in some of the best fashion retailers, such as Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty London, Luisa Via Roma, Le Bon Marché, La Rinascente, Harvey Nichols and Isetan.