The Interview —

Sarah Flint, Founder, Creative Director, and Executive Chairman of Sarah Flint

I’ve loved shoes and fashion as long as I could remember—a love that was largely instilled in me by my grandmother. I definitely always wanted to become a designer, which I pursued at FIT, Parsons School of Design, and Ars Sutoria in Milan, where I studied pattern-making alongside the artisans in the factories. It was there that I began to question why luxury shoes didn’t also focus on comfort, and why the industry was so focused on creating editorial styles as opposed to shoes women could actually wear in their daily lives. That’s when I got the idea to design luxury shoes that were stylish and comfortable. 

The most challenging was in 2017, when I pulled my shoes from stores like Barney’s and transitioned the brand to a direct-to-consumer model. It was a big leap emotionally and logistically. The most rewarding is hearing from customers who have formed an attachment to the brand, and have shared with me the wonderful memories they now have while wearing our shoes. 

I think what really sets us apart is that we combine the best of a luxury brand with the best of a direct-to-consumer brand. We’re focused on style and comfort together, we rely on artisan craftsmanship and generations-old techniques, but we’re also always thinking of the customer’s needs first. We want to give the people who buy our shoes the absolute best experience possible. 

These days it looks like a lot of back-to-back Zoom calls. Pre-pandemic, I’d be in the office splitting time between design, marketing, investor relations, content creation, and creative direction. I still do all of that now, but virtually from my home shoe closet/office. 

It’s always amazing to see women I admire wearing my shoes. They have access to any brand they want, so it’s always an honor when they choose mine. What makes me happiest, though, is that they wear my shoes not just on the red carpet, but in their day-to-day lives. 

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately in the Fireside House Shoe. Hopefully as the weather gets warmer, though, I can go for walks in my favorite Natalies. 

Grace Kelly. I love the old Hollywood glamour look. 

I love spending time with my family’s pups, Oscar and Jack. (I say pups but Oscar is nearly 14 years old.) They’re the best boys. 

I would tell her to be relentless in pursuing your dream. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or do some cold outreach. If you never ask, the answer is always no. 

In the past year, we debuted new categories like scarves and stationery, so I’m really excited to keep bringing our aesthetic to different types of products.