Kaira: Who are you and what do you do?
Silvia: I'm Silvia, the founder of Macian, a luxury footwear brand. We create beautiful, high-quality shoes made in England for women - shoes that are refined, wearable, and built to move with you.

Kaira: How do you want women to feel when they wear your shoes?
Silvia: Confident. I remember what it felt like working in corporate, always having to switch between shoes - one pair for comfort, another for meetings. It never felt seamless. Macian was born from that frustration. I wanted to design shoes women could wear throughout the day, to meetings, on the move, without having to compromise how they feel or how they show up.

Kaira: What’s been the biggest challenge so far in building the brand?
Silvia: Wearing so many hats. I spent over a decade working in big teams with defined roles, so stepping into a founder’s role, where you're responsible for everything and that was a big shift. Even with support, it's not the same. You make the decisions, and you carry the weight. That’s the biggest challenge, but also the most rewarding part. 

Kaira: What would you say is your superpower as a founder?
Silvia: Resilience. You need it. The highs and lows are real, and sometimes intense. But if you’re resilient, you keep going. That consistency is everything. 

Kaira: You live in Switzerland, your shoes are produced in the UK, and you're aiming to
grow globally so  how do you manage that? Especially on a limited budget?
Silvia: It’s definitely  a challenge. But I made a conscious decision to prioritize craftsmanship, and for that, the UK was the right place. Global growth as a small brand with limited resources is hard, but I try to stay grounded in our values. It’s all about taking one step at a time, staying true to your vision, and building slowly but meaningfully. 

Kaira: Which market is becoming most important for you right now and how do you build a brand abroad?
Silvia: The U.S. is quickly becoming our most important market. We travel when needed, but of course, it’s 2025. We have the tools and technology to run things efficiently across countries, even if we are not there in person.

Kaira: Thank you so much for your time and its great talking to you!
Silvia: Thank you, it’s great talking to you too