“Born out of necessity, developed with passion” is how Eleanor Anukam describes herself and her line of women’s shoes. Eleanor Anukam was born in Houston, Texas, raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and has become an experienced world-traveler for her new shoe line. After years of searching for luxury footwear with no success, Anukam, a size 11 herself, turned her frustration and embarked on a journey to create a line of luxury women’s shoes to service an underserved population of women. Launched in December 2015, this affordable luxury shoe brand caters to women with shoe sizes 9-13, all hand made in Brazil. From the embellishments, animal print, satin in jewel tones and then the Nigerian names of each style are just a few of the things that make this collection so unique. Women who have been blessed with larger feet, if you’re looking to step your shoe game up make your way to Eleanor Anukam. Here, women will be able to find what they have been searching for, high-end footwear whose classic style is trendy and can be worn year after year as fashions change. The company is less than a year old, but is gaining a lot of positive buzz. Having actress and LGBTQ advocate Laverne Cox step out in Anukam’s shoes, after Cox’s stylist reached out to her, Anukam shoe line is heading for much success. Anukam, takes a lot of pride in delivering the best quality and customer service to each buyer, so much so that she will personally call to make sure products are delivered in the best care.
Eleanor sets a perfect example that if you dream big and set your heart towards your dreams, you can achieve anything — and this is just her beginning!
When did you fall in love with Fashion?
I fell in love with fashion, because my mom was very fashionable. My mom is into alteration, she sews, so she always been that fashionable person. I fell in love with fashion playing dress up in her closet. She would mix prints, that was one of her gifts. I call her the master of print mixing, print you think would clash, she would be able to mix them.
What inspire you just to focus on shoes sizes starting from 9 and up?
I’m 5’10 and I wear a size 12. So I always had a problem with that. I could find the best clothing but getting footwear my size would always be a problem. I was that girl that would go to the mall with her friends, but would have to go to Payless or some basement store to get shoes. I was never able to go to Nordstrom or Saks to get really really nice shoes. So I decided to make my pain my stories. I decided to create a brand of footwear of luxury shoes that Neiman’s could buy and make it available to the consumers at an affordable price.
How did you get your start?
Researching! I was the girl that didn’t sleep. I would translate Portuguese on google translator to find factories. I researched for three months, I visited several factories. So I pretty much lived in Brazil.Then ended finding my manufacture in Brazil. The manufacturer I use produces some of the top brands like Sophia Webster, Kate Spade, and Tory Burch. Once I found my factory, I had to learn the shoemaking process. What goes into shoes construction, the construction of the shoes, the heels, the lap, the sizing, So I did all that research myself.
What keeps you motivated?
I owe a lot it to my Dad. My dad is the classic case of from nothing to something. What keeps my motivated is me knowing that I’m not gonna stop until I get to where I want to get too. I want to see this business succeed, I want it to be a success story. So there is no failing. I have to get up and I have to work. There is no other life I know but that.
What is the meaning behind your shoes names? What is the concept?
I’m originally Nigeran. I was born in Houston, Texas, but raised back home in Legos, Africia. So with designing my footwear, you have to give your shoes a name, some of the best designers do it. I didn’t want to pick any just cause. So each shoe are Ebo names. I’m ebo and from an Ebo tribe in Nigeria, so the names mean everything to me. They are not your typical names, they are Ebo girls name in Nigeria. It’s my culture and I want to stay true to that. I’m a Nigerian-American girl, that lives in Dallas, Texas, who designs shoes for women from sizes 9 to 13.
Does your work reflect you personal fashion taste?
Yes, I love well-made items. I love luxurious leathers! I could have gone to another country and produce mass products of my shoes and not care about quality just to make a buck. That’s not what I’m about.
If you had a choice to collaborate with any designer, who would it be?
Brian Atwood, he is my favorite!
Do you plan on making footwear for women of a smaller size?
Yes! I get bombarded with emails from women asking about that as well about larger sizes above a 13. I’m thinking for the spring I want to make sizes 7, 8, and maybe 14.
How can people get in contact with you?
They can email myself, info@eleanoranukam.com or go to the website Eleanor Anukam. We pride ourself on customer service. I want it to be an experience so we value them!
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