Was working in the footwear industry a natural choice?

I’ve felt the urge to shape and colour objects from an early age. As a child, I used to create “architectural works” with the leftover wooden floorboards that were plentiful in the family’s building materials store, giving free rein to my creativity. In fact, I’ve always known that my career would inevitably involve design. 

Later on, a conversation with someone in the industry inspired me to get to know the world of footwear in all its facets, and I began to get excited about the infinite creativity that could be applied to it. Plus, the experiences I’ve had with professionals in the sector, the passion and professionalism of craftsmen and other collaborators, are contagious and lead to a natural journey through this industry.  

How do you define your brand, and how do you make it stand out in the market?

The brand celebrates the meeting of art and individuality. No two pairs of shoes are the same. We search for the best and most exclusive materials, focusing on comfort and quality, combined with a colourful, bold and eclectic palette, characterised by the boldness of its colours and patterns. These shoes are designed for unique women and men who know exactly what they want.

What have been the greatest challenges so far?

If we look at the current state of the world, namely the post-pandemic period, the wars and the many crises, we find our first and greatest challenge. 

However, searching for suppliers willing to produce small orders is another challenge that eats up time and resources. There’s a mass industrialisation policy that favours large orders rather than investing in new brands and exclusive collections. This factor, which places a huge burden on what is already expensive in the market, is a major obstacle to creating new collections. At the same time, it requires a massive investment to reach the target audience, given the fierce competition from the big brands established on the market.

What advice would you give a young person just starting out in the industry?

Staying focused, persevering, dreaming and not giving up. This industry brings a lot of worries, tiredness and work, but it also brings a lot of joy. There’s nothing better than the feeling of seeing someone wearing a pair of shoes we’ve designed.

For more information, visit Liquito Mesquita's website.