International Women's Day 2021: An Interview With Julia Lebosse From @sneakersbywomen

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, we're shining a spotlight on the most influential women in the sneaker industry, putting a focus on the inspirational and talented women who’ve paved the way for future females. From the designers who've created groundbreaking new silhouettes, to women who've spoken out about equal rights for females within the industry.

We spoke to Julia Lebosse, the creator of @sneakersbywomen, an Instagram page dedicated to showcasing the amazing work produced by women in the industry, discussing her favourite female designers and her thoughts on inclusive sizing. Check out the interview below and let us know your thoughts on the topic over on Instagram!

Can you give us a little bit of background into how you created @sneakersbywomen, what the focus of the page is?

Through having a fascination and love for sneakers since I can remember, I enjoy delving deep into the inspiring stories of the people behind sneakers. Yet part of me always felt disheartened because of the absence of spotlighted females, when there are many doing amazing work out there. So, I thought why not create a space to highlight the women who often go unnoticed in the world of sneakers and fashion, making sure that no one is left out!

My main focus of Sneakers by Women is to show the world what women are capable of and build a community full of women and male allies, to push for a more inclusive sneaker industry!

Who do you believe are the most influential women in the sneaker scene right now?

A woman that has been making waves in the sneaker scene, and a major influential figure right now with her awesome collaborations, is Yoon Ahn. Yoon is a Korean American jewellery designer and style icon, who has recently attracted the attention of many sneakers and fashion lovers alike, thanks to her new AMBUSH x Nike Dunk High. Not to mention being the first women EVER to design a Nike x NBA collection. Her distinctive approach to sneaker design is something that has influenced me and many others for years now, it's always exciting to see what she's creating next!

How do you think the scene has evolved over the last few years for women?

In the last few years, we have seen some real change within the sneaker industry. Finally, our voices are starting to be heard. From unisex sneakers, to more attention brought to LGBTQ+, exclusive women’s releases, female collaborations and so much more. Of course, there is still a long way to go before we reach equality, especially with inclusive sizing, but there’s definitely been a huge improvement and the future is looking brighter!

Who are your favourite female sneaker designers?

At the moment, my favourite has to be Charlotte Lee, Footwear Designer at New Balance, responsible for the highly valued NB 327. I just love the modern take on two of NBs classic Super Comp and Trail 355 and the crazy XC-72 that has just recently been teased, she just keeps bringing the fire! Haley Toelle, another incredible woman innovating at Nike, and the designer behind the new Nike Go Fly Ease. Plus, Kim Jabbie, one of the women bringing us the great WMNS Jordan colourways. Those are just a few, but there’s certainly more that I’m a huge fan of.

What was your favourite women’s-exclusive release?

My favourite women’s-exclusive in the last year is The AMBUSH x Nike Dunk High. The bright fuchsia colour and silhouette is incredibly similar to one of my first pairs I had when I was young. Although I missed out on the release, I would love to get them in the future to somewhat relive my childhood.

What do you want to see more of in the scene?

In the sneaker scene, I want to see more emphasis on enabling sneakers to get into the hands of people who actually want to wear them! In the UK, Offspring is a perfect example, extremely community-driven, which I love to see. Sneakersnstuff also sold the Jordan 1 "Silver Toe" exclusively to women. I'd love to see more sneaker retailers experimenting with new ways to sell sneakers, so we can dampen the major resell problem.

What's your stance on inclusive sneaker sizing?

The future of sneakers is inclusive. As a society, we continue to break down gender stereotypes so the sneaker industry will have to do the same. It's been a big topic recently, thanks to Titi Finlay's viral post last year highlighting the issue. Everyone, no matter their age, gender, race, etc. should be able to wear whatever sneakers they want and have access to it in their size!

Who inspires you as a female?

Not a female but someone who inspires me is D’Wayne Edwards. The talented designer and man behind the Footwear Design Academy, Pensole. He has opened so many doors for aspiring designers, regardless of socioeconomic or economic background to learn from industry professionals. Not a female but someone who inspires me is D’Wayne Edwards. The talented designer and man behind the Footwear Design Academy, Pensole. He has opened so many doors for aspiring designers, regardless of socioeconomic or economic background to learn from industry professionals.

Many industry leaders inspire me, but I would have to say that my greatest inspiration comes from my mother who always taught me to stay focused and work hard, and no matter the obstacles that come my way. She has always supported me through whatever I choose to do, which inspired me to do the same for others through Sneakers by Women.

Who would you dream female collab be?

This is a really difficult question! I guess my absolute dream collaboration right now would be on a one-of-one Julia Lebosse x Nike ACG Mountain Fly Low. Being a sporty girl and loving the outdoors, I always love a sneaker that's strong and can handle almost anything. I was a competitive swimmer for most of my life and used to wear this bright fuchsia costume which was my favourite, and the one I wore when I swam my best times ever! So strangely it would be amazing to recycle the material and incorporate it into the Nike ACG sneaker to keep as a wearable memory.