Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Roth.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Shoes changed my life. I’ve always loved shoes, but it wasn’t until getting the question “What’s your name again?” that my life path would be altered forever.
It all started when I went to a networking event one night. As most Angelenos know, normally these events are the WORST, but this night was particularly good. I met this group of people and we were really vibing, but when we got to saying our goodbyes they all looked at me and asked: “what’s your name again?” My heart sank. We had just been besties for the last three hours and not one person remembered my name. I felt completely invisible.
I immediately thought, if I was wearing a pair of J shaped heels, you would remember that my name is Jenn. I want to be memorable.
I came home and got to work searching for J shaped heels! Researching customized footwear that showcases your name, your initials, and your message. I wanted shoes to be remembered by… and nothing existed.
So I decided to build J shaped shoes myself. I started taking apart heels – LITERALY sawing heels off of hundreds of pairs of shoes! I studied heel construction and set out to create a custom design that also provided extra comfort through arch and heel support.
Now celebrating KiraKira Couture’s launch five years later blows my mind because I never expected one event would lead me to where I am going now. All I did was take the first step and I believe every woman can follow the same path successfully.
Granted, I ultimately decided the launch my line with “F” and “U” instead of “J”, but we’ll get there!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With limited experience in the fashion business, no background in fashion and not having a single contact in the industry, it was extremely challenging trying to make this dream a reality. From constantly hearing the word “no” to quite literally not knowing what my next step should at so many points in the process, I am incredibly proud that I was able to manifest this dream into reality!
After creating my shoe prototypes, I met with every manufacturer that would take a meeting with me (mostly owned by men) but no one took KiraKira Couture’s unique heel design seriously at first. I had a patented design that provided a more comfortable heel option by offering extra support for the arch and heel of your foot, but no one wanted to change the construction of how a high heel shoe was made.
I was met with constant rejection and it certainly took a toll on my spirits. I had to rely on maintaining my fiercely undaunted state of mind, as well as trust my instincts and the value and benefit my product brought to women. Eventually, I met a manufacturer whose wife happened to be at the office that day. The owner’s wife agreed to try the shoe on and within seconds she was convincing her husband that this was a shoe he needed to make!
As a fashion outsider, what I didn’t know turned out to be my greatest asset. Not knowing the way things “should” be done allowed me to be innovative and disruptive and break the status quo. And I was able to invent something new in the process!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kirakira Couture?
KiraKira means glitter or bling bling in Japanese and the goal of the shoe line is to make every woman sparkle and be memorable, both literally and figuratively. However, if a shoe isn’t comfortable, you aren’t going to wear them very often. We want you to ALWAYS sparkle, so our innovation comes via our patented and uniquely constructed heel design that provides amazing support and comfort.
Initially, my goal of designing footwear was focused on creating something memorable. As I began creating our signature F.U. Fiercely Undaunted line, I discovered that I also found my voice through that process.
Shoes are my superpower.
I use my shoes as an anchor, as my superhero cape, I put them on and they help me feel more confident and powerful and strong. No matter the challenge, I can achieve anything as long as I take that first step.
I want to share my superhero power with the world. Being unapologetically ourselves is our unique gift to the world and wearing the Fiercely Undaunted shoes will always remind women to celebrate that fact.
How do you define success?
Success is listening to your customer. For one individual that I know who is currently battling cancer, she puts on her F. U. Fiercely Undaunted shoes while getting chemotherapy as a reminder to kick cancer’s ass. In honor of her, and my incredible mother-in-law, and the many women I know who have been affected by breast cancer, we are going to be expanding the line with a pink Fiercely Undaunted shoe and will donate a portion of the sales towards breast cancer research.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kirakiracouture.com/
- Instagram: KIRAKIRACOUTURE
- Twitter: KIRAKIRACOUTURE
- Other: Tiktok: KIRAKIRACOUTURE
Image Credits
Viktoria Sirakova
