By Eni Muça
JORI PAPA didn’t enter the fashion world to follow trends, but to build her own language. With a strong background in architecture and a sharp aesthetic sensitivity, she creates shoes that don’t seek attention—they earn it quietly. In this interview, she shares how a lifelong passion for form, lines, and movement led her to shoe design; how her work interweaves elements of art, architecture, and feminine identity; and why she believes authenticity is always more compelling than perfection.
An architect designing shoes—why this path? How did your desire to create shoes begin?
It wasn’t a sudden decision, but rather a return to an old passion. Since I was a child, I’ve been drawn to the shape of the shoe as an object—a structure that holds elegance, strength, and emotion. Architecture taught me how to build with logic, but shoes allowed me to create with emotion. It was a need to express femininity, strength, and individuality in a freer and more personal way.
How has your background influenced your shoe designs?
My education in architecture gave me a very structural and functional approach to design. I think in volumes, proportions, and balance between lines and comfort. Every model is like a miniature building—it needs a strong base, a harmonious silhouette, and a visually striking element. This mix of logic and aesthetics is what makes every JORI PAPA creation a unique experience.
How would you describe the philosophy behind JORI PAPA Shoes, and what makes the brand stand out?
JORI PAPA speaks to the woman who doesn’t aim to be perfect, but to be herself—unique in her style. Every pair of shoes is a statement of character—bold, elegant, quiet, but with presence. What makes us unique is the ability to merge art with function, femininity with strength, and individuality with a clear aesthetic identity.
What are the biggest challenges in creating shoes that are always unique?
The biggest challenge is maintaining the brand identity without repeating ourselves. Every collection requires a delicate balance between creative freshness and aesthetic consistency. Then there are technical challenges—every small detail impacts the comfort and durability of the product. But for me, that’s also the most exciting part: creating a wearable, expressive piece of art—a silhouette that hasn’t been seen before.
Which artists, architects, or designers have most influenced your creative journey?
I’m inspired by architects like Zaha Hadid, for the fluidity of her lines and the way she challenged gravity, and Le Corbusier for his structure and rationality. In art, I’m drawn to the power of Rothko’s colors and the energy of Matisse’s forms. In fashion, designers like Azzedine Alaïa, Martin Margiela, and Miuccia Prada have deeply influenced me in how they approach the body and fashion as sculpture, and in how they reinterpret the feminine silhouette.
You mention that your inspiration comes from art, architecture, nature, and the female personality. How do you bring these elements into your designs?
It all starts with a feeling—a stone’s texture, the line of a building, a natural color, or a woman’s gesture as she walks. I collect them like fragments and transform them into shapes. Architectural lines become clean cuts, nature becomes raw materials or organic tones, and the woman—in all her complexity, from elegance to rebellion—is represented in the details of every model.
What would you like people to know more about your work and about you as a creator?
I’d love for people to understand that behind every pair of shoes lies a story, a feeling, a moment captured in form. I don’t just create products—I build experiences that touch emotion. I’m a creator who works with the mind of an architect and the soul of an artist. Every detail is both thought through and deeply felt.
What is the main message you want to convey through your shoe collections?
Being yourself is the highest form of elegance. JORI PAPA shoes are not just made to be worn—they’re made to be felt, to walk with courage, to enter a room with presence, without the need for words. I want every woman who wears them to feel like the most powerful and authentic version of herself.
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