Sophia Webster

British shoe designer, entrepreneur, and debut author Sophia Webster is best known for her instantly recognisable and eponymously named luxury accessories brand.

Her love of art at school was the springboard to her enrolment at the London College of Fashion where she graduated with first class honours, followed by an MA degree at the prestigious Royal College of Art.  She debuted her first shoe collection for Spring/Summer 2013, becoming internationally renowned for her unique, creative and instantly uplifting designs.

She has won numerous accolades including the Conde Nast Footwear News “Emerging Designer of the Year” in 2012, and the British Fashion Award for “Emerging Accessories Designer” in 2013.  2016 saw Sophia become the first female shoe designer to receive the prestigious “British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund”. In the summer of 2019, Sophia was awarded an honorary doctorate in design from De Montfort University, marking her contribution to footwear design.

Sophia’s designs are famously known for their use of wing motifs, most notably butterfly and angel wings. But it was only years after these products became bestsellers did Sophia realise her inextricable connection to butterflies thanks to her paternal grandmother, and her great, grand uncle, explorer Herbert Cayley Webster.  Today, her styles Chiara, Vanessa and Evangeline are cherished by her brand’s audience who regularly attach powerful symbolism to the wing details.  Her company’s motto is Strive Evolve Ascend and inspired by the life-cycle of the butterfly.

A year after the launch of her brand, Sophia married her husband and CEO of her company – Bobby Stockley.  Inevitably Sophia’s mind turned to bridal shoes, resulting in the launch of her well-loved, contemporary and conversation-starting bridal collection at a time when the available options in the market were largely ‘classic’.  Sophia strategically harnessed the growth of social media’s influence over the way brides planned their weddings, leading her to create for this range, the hugely Instagrammable “Wifey for Lifey” soles, and associated online community.   When Sophia fell pregnant with her first child, Bibi, she launched her Mini collection that featured kids’ versions of her bestselling wing sandals.  Once again, the popularity of the range saw rapid growth thanks to her savvy use of social media and timely posting of herself and Bibi wearing the sandals, making her a true pioneer of the mini-me movement.

One of Sophia’s proudest career moments was the launch of her ‘Extended Sizes’ collection in February 2020, producing her key brand styles up to a size EU46 (US15.5/UK13). She is the first luxury footwear brand to introduce this widely inclusive size range.  

Sophia lives in East London with her husband Bobby Stockley, their five children and the family’s Frenchie.

Oh My Gosh, I Love Your Shoes! is the first title from Sophia Webster and due for publication in October 2023.  Available for pre-order now.