About us

At Esska, we believe that footwear should not only be fashionable but also provide the utmost comfort and quality. 

Since 2006, our mission has been to create footwear that effortlessly combines style, functionality and comfort.

Our Story

We are Esska! A footwear brand based in West London. Esska launched in 2006 when Souraya, our founder, became increasingly frustrated with the shoes that were on offer in the shops. They were either comfy and a bit ugly, or good looking and uncomfortable.

Souraya’s dream was to change this so that stylish shoes could also be comfortable. Esska started small. We launched with a single sandal and set up in Souraya’s boyfriend’s (now husband) spare room. The spare room quickly became Souraya’s design studio, warehouse, office and everything else. Our one style soon became a collection and we were stocked in some great boutiques….. Esska’s journey started.

In 2017 we launched our website, allowing us to offer Esska to a much wider group of people. Lots of hard work and 7 office moves later, we have built a business and we’re no longer based out of a spare room; but we still remain true to our original idea of creating good looking, comfortable, shoes. If you are wondering, the name Esska comes from the phonetic French (Souraya is Lebanese and speaks fluent French) pronunciation of Souraya’s maiden name. Souraya Karami = S and K = Ess Ka.

Our Values

Esska was founded on the idea that stylish shoes should prioritise comfort.
We create designs that not only look fabulous but also provide a wonderful wearing experience. We take pride in our craftsmanship and commitment to quality; we work with skilled artisans in Portugal who bring our designs to life using premium leathers and vegan materials. Each pair of shoes is crafted with precision and attention to detail, ensuring a perfect fit and long-lasting durability. We believe that when you invest in a pair of Esska shoes, you're investing in footwear that will stand the test of time. 

Style and comfort are at the heart of what we do. Our designs draw on inspiration from everything around us - our environment, objects, cities, art, exhibitions, and much more. We are also a little bit crazy about colour. Metallics, brights, block colour, pastels, colour combinations, layering, etc, etc.

We strive to infuse every design with features that enhance fit and comfort. From block heels and chic flats to trendy sneakers and versatile boots, our range offers something for every occasion and personal style, but never compromises on comfort. We want our customers to be able to wear our shoes day and night, with lots of outfits.

Our Mission

Our customers are at the core of everything we do and we are dedicated to ensuring your satisfaction with our products and service. From the moment you explore our website, we aim to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience and our friendly customer support team is always ready to assist you with any questions you may have. We may have grown, but we want to ensure we continue to offer the same personal touch we had when we were a team of 2.

Our Team

Souraya is our founder and designer. She is Lebanese by origin, lives with her husband, two kids, and dog Kobe in West London. She studied architecture in Beirut before moving to London in 2003 to study shoe design at London College of Fashion. She founded Esska in 2006.

Dan Gyves, her husband joined the Esska team as a full-time member in 2021 following a career working for numerous shoe brands. Dan’s father was a shoe designer and manufacturer, so he was playing with shoes before he could walk. Dan still loves getting his hands dirty in shoe factories but spends more time in spreadsheets than he really wants to. We also have a great team of people supporting you in our warehouse, customer service, design, social media, and ecommerce. If you contact us you’ll hear back from either Che, Vivienne, Ale or Nicole.