During this time, I immersed myself in the art of shoemaking. I realized how rare it was to find footwear that combined refined aesthetics with true comfort. Most shoes were either beautiful but painful, or comfortable yet lacking style—and it became clear why: many women’s shoes were designed by men who never experienced what it feels like to wear them.

EMILIA MERZ was born from the desire to change this.

I set out to create shoes I would love to wear myself—shoes crafted for modern women who value elegance, quality, and effortless comfort.

At EMILIA MERZ, we design in small, exclusive batches, prioritizing sustainability over mass production. Every pair is handcrafted by artisanal family workshops, preserving generations of shoemaking tradition. Each step reflects our belief that elegance lives in the details, and the right pair of shoes transforms an outfit from ordinary to extraordinary.

Our mission is simple:

To create beautifully made, timeless shoes that women feel confident, comfortable, and truly themselves in.

Thank you,

Elvira Merz

Founder & Designer

USA | Europe