07/12/2025

ON SUNDAY December 7, 2025 theSunday Special VII

already helping at an annual warehouse sale for her father’s brand, Lewré. School holidays were spent in the shoe factory, surrounded by the hum of machines and the smell of leather, wandering between rows of tools and sketches, watching craftsmen bring ideas to life. What began as a way to make her parents proud slowly became a passion of her own. In late 2015, when Lewré was going WKURXJK D GL̇ FXOW WLPH WKH EUDQG ZDV losing relevance and facing multiple challenges. Lew initially resisted when her father asked for her help to revamp it. She felt she was too young, too inexperienced and not good enough. “Somehow, I found the strength to take it on and to my own surprise, I excelled. That experience taught me resilience, GLVFLSOLQH DQG WKH FRXUDJH WR ¿QG P\ RZQ voice as a designer. It made me realise shoes are never just shoes. They are stories. In every design I create today, I carry forward both my family’s legacy and my own,” Lew said. Most of the shoes designed by Lew are named after women in her life. These women are her friends, mentors and everyday women whose spirit left an impression on her. Their stories remind her that fashion is not only about appear ance. It is about creating something real, something that supports women as they move through every chapter of their lives. “My creative process begins with women, real women in real life. I design not just for how they look but for who they are and how they move through their day. I try to translate their moods and aspirations into sketches, colours and textures. Then I bring them to life through material and prototype testing for comfort and beauty,” Lew said. For Lew, working on a design is like writing a scene. She layers emotion, craft and subtle intention until each pair feels alive. The shoes are not just objects; they are little stories that walk. When a woman slips into them and everything clicks, from the comfort to the feeling and FRQ¿GHQFH VKH NQRZV WKDW VKH has told that story well.

the discomfort that usually comes with it. I wanted to create a shoe that allows them to feel both empowered and at ease,” Lew said. With its 4.5-inch heel and one-inch platform, Tricia is versatile, comfortable for many foot types and beautiful without compromise. Lew sees it as more than a shoe. For her, it is a symbol of indepen dence, courage and creativity. Aside from all the women in Lew’s life, her father has also been her biggest inspi ration. She watched him weather both his greatest successes and his struggles, LQFOXGLQJ ORQJ QLJKWV GL̇ FXOW GHFLVLRQV and moments when walking away might have been easier. He chose perseverance instead. “I learned quietly to avoid his mistakes, to build on his strengths and never to give up when things get tough. His discipline and resilience left the deepest mark on me. My father has never been the type who advises in words. I am grateful for those unspoken lessons because they shaped not only the way I work but the way I carry myself. Even now, when I face challenges of my own, it is his example that reminds me to keep going,” Lew said. Lew also admires the artist Marina $EUDPRYLü DQG ORFDO GHVLJQHU VLVWHUV Yen Lee and Shirley of Maglifestyle. $EUDPRYLü WDXJKW KHU WKDW WUXH DUW LV not just about what you create but the energy and emotion it holds. As for the Maglifestyle sisters, they reminded her that real success is built not only on talent but also on patience, discipline and love for what you do. Their journey inspires her to keep creating with heart. When it comes to sustainability, Lew believes it is not just an option; it is essential. She loves it when clients tell her they have been wearing their Lewré shoes for more than 20 years and have even brought them back for repair. It tells her that Lewré has created something timeless and well-crafted, something that becomes a part of a woman’s life for decades. She wants to embrace more sustainable materials and continue designing with care for both people and the planet.

Lew’s designs are inspired by the women around her and their stories.

Tricia Lew: If the Ú³ŒÃ ïÈ

“My first signature pair under the Tricia Lew brand is the Tricia heels. They will always mean the most to me. ‘Tricia’ marked a mile stone for me, stepping out of my father’s shadow and GH¿QLQJ P\ RZQ LGHQWLW\ DV a designer. The design came from watching

S HOES are not just a way to protect or act as a shield from the rough journey ahead. They send out a clear message about who the wearer is. More than a fashion statement, the shoe you put on ¿UVW WKLQJ LQ WKH PRUQLQJ WR IDFH WKH GD\ reveals a great deal about your personal ity. Indeed, you can never judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. To walk a mile in a woman’s shoes WDNHV VWUHQJWK FRQ¿GHQFH DQG UHVLOLHQFH The path is often rough and sometimes it leads nowhere. Through it all, she is expected to look graceful, feminine and composed. Maybe that is why women ORYH EHDXWLIXO VKRHV WKH\ R̆ HU D VPDOO moment of beauty to balance the weight of everything else they carry. Tricia Lew designs shoes inspired by her observations of how women move through their daily lives, constantly balancing different roles and shifting identities. She has come to discover that every woman carries many layers within her: strength, ambition, vulnerability, elegance and grit. Lew designs to hold those layers.

BY HANNEF ESQUANDER

“People often told me I was a perfectionist. Even my lecturer once said it was both my great est strength and my biggest weakness. For a long time, I struggled to move forward un less something felt absolutely perfect and that held me

“My shoe brand, Tricia Lew, is my exploration of identity, where feminine meets masculine and authenticity meets expression. What truly lights my heart is seeing women experience real joy when they wear my designs. It is in those mo ments, those small and quiet epiphanies, that I feel I have succeeded,” Lew said. As the daughter of renowned local shoe designer Lewré Lew, she has been involved in the industry for as long as she can remember. At seven years old, she was

back. Over time, I have learned to enjoy the journey, to let go a little and not to over think every detail. It is still not easy, but it has taught me that progress matters more than perfec tion. If I could ad vise all the young women out there, it would be this: stay true to your craft, but do not let the pursuit of perfection stop you from growing,” Lew said, ending the conversation on a positive note.

so many women struggle between wanting height and confidence, yet fearing

Even now, when I face challenges, it is my father’s example that reminds me to keep going.”

Lew