Little Lulu's shoes come tottering to us

Meet Catriona who is fulffilling her life long dream....shoes!

Little Lulu’s Hello my name is Catriona.

I am the creator of Little Lulu’s. I have been a lover of shoes for as long as I can remember. When people asked me as a child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my answer was always that I wanted to work in a shoe shop.

As a student I studied footwear and accessory design at the prestigious Cordwainers’ College. Since university I have worked in the fashion industry for about 11 years as a handbag designer, designing high-end Italian made handbags as well as fast fashion faux leather bags for high street retailers. It was only when I started a family that I decided I wanted to have a go at being my own boss. It is something I’d always talked about doing throughout my whole career but I never really had enough inclination to do it.

Then I had my daughter, Layla. For me I think it was such a life changing experience, it helped me to focus my mind and realise a dream I had always wished for. I think I gained the confidence I lacked beforehand. Initially I planned to hand make baby shoes myself on my leather sewing machine in the attic. It would be a small outfit selling on etsy and at craft fairs but as I made more plans it seamed to take on a life of its own. I was searching for factories and making plans for a website of my own. When I found the wonderful Italian studio where the shoes are now made I was hooked and really wanted to make it work on a larger scale. I went to visit them and the first range was planned. The design idea behind them is that they are all miniature versions of the shoes fashion conscious parents like to wear, while still maintaining some sense of innocence.

They are all handcrafted in Italy in the finest eco-friendly nappa leather and come beautiful packaged in a clear presentation box with dust bag, gift tag and bow. They make a wonderful keep sake for years to come. All of the shoes are for pre-walkers, just up to 18 months. Sizes available are 16, 18 and 20, which roughly equate to 0-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-18 months, although all babies vary.

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