Sophia Webster gets honorary doctorate

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jul 24, 2019

Shoe designer Sophia Webster has been awarded an honorary doctorate in design from the De Montfort University, marking her contribution to footwear design.

She wore the Chiara shoes, the butterfly sandals which have been her most successful style to date, as she received the honorary degree during the final graduation ceremony of the Leicester university.

The British shoe and accessories designer graduated from Cordwainers College and The Royal College of Art before working as an apprentice with Nicholas Kirkwood. She established her own brand in 2013 and became famous for her feminine and playful aesthetic.

Over the past sixteen years, she has won many design awards, including the coveted BFC Vogue Fashion Fund in 2016 - becoming the first female shoe designer in history to receive this prize.

Her signature sandals have been worn by everyone from Kendall Jenner to Oprah Winfrey, and her shoes are available in leading department stores and specialty retailers worldwide as well as online and in her two London stores.

In addition to her achievements in her field, Webster was recognised for her contributions to learning, having supported and coached many design students and employed DMU graduates.

In an inspiring acceptance speech, the designer shared her personal vision to “be bold, be brave, believe” with the graduands and invited them to relish the process of struggle that comes before achievement.