Zyne

Founded by designers Laura Pujol and Zineb Britel, Zyne (named for the Arabic word for “beauty”) is a Moroccan footwear label known for its meticulously crafted and playful spin on traditional Moroccan shoe silhouettes. Known for their eccentric and indulgent interpretation of the “babouche” (an ancestral, heelless-style slipper that has its origins in Morocco), their collections feature elements of artisanal embroidery as well as other unexpected elements including glitter, fringing, feathered pom poms, and more.

After studying fashion design at ESMOD in Paris and gaining experience at prestigious French fashion houses like Christian Dior and Sonia Rykiel, Britel discovered a passion for shoe design. She went on to gain an education in the craft at Central Saint Martins in London and Moda Pelle in Italy, eventually teaming up with her best friend Pujol, who had previously worked on the marketing team of Christian Louboutin, to form the Zyne label.

Besides designing striking footwear, the brand is also something of a social enterprise. They employ Moroccan women in underserved communities to make their shoes in an effort to foster within them a sense of confidence and self-worth as well as to uplift them financially. Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, the design duo explained part of their long term aim: “Our goal is to preserve and promote our Moroccan heritage by encouraging more women to learn traditional Moroccan embroidery techniques, so that it can be passed on to the next generation and other generations to come.”

Counting Chiara Ferragni, Leandra Medine and Meghan Markle as fans, Zyne has also garnered positive mentions from platforms like L'Officiel and Vogue.