Accessories – Boston
My name is Mauryn Kkira (pronounced Maureen Chirrha) and I am originally from Uganda - a small country in East Africa. I moved to the United States when I was 19 and full of dreams. In my second year of college, as an extremely excited pre-med student, due to a series of unfortunate events my family experienced unexpected immense financial hardship. Needless to say, the direction of my life changed dramatically.
In an effort to be of some use to my family during this time, I chose to stop college and opted for a clinical certificate course (literally all I could afford), got a job as a clinical assistant and became the bread-winner for me and my family. Making that decision still ranks as my proudest accomplishment to date and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity because it is during this time that I began to rediscover my love for creativity, freedom, self-expression and a desire to inspire people to be authentically themselves.
As you might imagine, my experience contributed to so much of who I am as a person and the designer I am today! My design style is deeply influenced by my upbringing and my African heritage which is rooted in visceral textures, the vibrancy of color, creative bold whimsy and organic multi-dimension. I tend to think of it as bohemian sophistication with an unexpected twist!
Along the way, life has taught me a few things and they are the reason I design fun and expressive shoes! I have learned the value of happiness and I love helping people to experience it fully. I have learned the value of being free, known and acknowledged for oneself - there is nothing more empowering for a human being than that. And last but certainly not least, I have learned the value of being free to live one’s truth and to express it in whichever way they feel most honored. There is truly no greater bliss!
I am a shoe designer that is all about inspiring people to express themselves through color, fashion, and style. I design shoes that are fun, expressive and bold with the hope that they will not only make people smile as they go about their day but that they help them to explore who they really are and give them the permission to express that fully in their everyday lives, no matter what they are doing.
The Kkira Feet wearer lives to embrace bold colors that play with his/her lifestyle and environment. Whether he/she is just off to a day at the office or out for a night on the town, heck they might just have a day full of nonstop errands, whatever the case may be, to them the name of the game is fun, color, comfort, and style! They use their style to express themselves and are not afraid to stand out of the crowd while doing it! Some may even say they live for it! Their entire life is a runway opportunity and they walk it every chance they get!
The inspiration for the brand is to design everyday shoes with the goal of making them fun and expressive no matter what the mundane tasks of life may often bring! The use of vibrant colors and a mix of texture is a key design point as they reflect the various moods the wearer would like to channel! From glitter to fabric, unique prints and colorful soles or laces, the combinations created are made to embody a playful and inspiring vibe that carries the wearer through their day with a smile!
After many years of frustration at the inability to find everyday shoes that were also fun to wear, I decided I would create them. Sure there were lots of shoes everywhere but I couldn’t understand why it seemed like about 98% of them were black, brown, beige, grey or white. What I was looking for were shoes that had it all! Fun, Comfort, Quality and Style, and I was not going to subscribe to the idea that all four things couldn’t exist in one shoe. All our shoes are handcrafted in Le Marche, Italy, home to some of the best shoemaking factories in the world! It is commonly referred to as the shoe district because shoemaking is a long-standing tradition that is taken very seriously there. Often with multiple generations of families in the same business. As a result, becoming a master craftsman is no easy feat since it takes many years to accomplish. Our shoes are therefore made by some of the most skilled craftsmen in the world as they are required to have an exceptional amount of proficiency and experience. All our shoes are made from 100% genuine Italian leather which is locally sourced and treated, thus minimizing our carbon footprint which we take very seriously. As a brand, we are proud to be able to offer a product that is of exquisite quality and does not compromise the expression of your personal style and our convictions. All our items are made to order and shipped to you directly from the production house so there is no waste of any kind and we continue to be creative in managing our carbon footprint! Support slow fashion and wear shoes that make you smile! Cheers to your Happy Feet!