The Dida Ritchie brand was founded in 2018 by Dida following a summer working on the stunning Island of Mallorca. Her time spent in Mallorca not only sparked her love for Spain but Spanish style and the famous espadrille. However, when Dida set out to find herself the ‘perfect pair’ of espadrille wedges she was left frustrated by the lack of options. Looking for a smarter, cooler version to the traditional canvas espadrilles, Dida could only find either luxury designer versions which were out of budget, or high-street alternatives which lacked quality and comfort. So, Dida set out to re-imagine the classic espadrille wedge by creating her own: a contemporary, stylish, and comfortable espadrille designed to elevate any outfit.
Shoes were the main focus at the beginning and were being really well received by a wonderful group of customers, however when lockdown hit, espadrilles, understandably, were no longer a priority for most shoppers! Adapting quickly, Dida expanded the brand with a collection of leather and suede bags – teaching herself to sew and hand-making each one to order to sit alongside the shoes. After all, what are shoes without a bag to go with them!
Today, Dida works with two fantastic factories in Spain to produce timeless, high-quality shoes and bags. Using specially selected suede and leather, the brand bridges the gap between high-street and luxury designer labels – offering premium craftsmanship at the best possible prices.
Designed to be effortlessly versatile, our pieces take you from day to night, city to beach. They’re made to last, made to be loved, and made to make you feel your best.
I love working in the Fashion industry because….
Everyone has their own personal style, and I find it so inspiring to see how people uniquely style our shoes and bags. I’m not here to define anyone’s look – I want to create pieces that elevate an outfit without overtaking it. It’s about giving people timeless, versatile accessories that let their individuality shine through and can evolve with them as their style evolves too.
I’m best known for…
Our espadrille wedges and how comfortable they really are.
My biggest achievement to date is…
Surviving the last couple of years! It might not be the most glamorous achievement, but like so many small businesses, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was a huge challenge for my business. We went into lockdown just as my summer stock arrived – and safe to say, espadrille wedges weren’t exactly flying out the door for people to wear around the house!
To make things even harder, my factory at the time also went into liquidation. The wedges feature a unique design with a suede/leather heel that matches the front upper and only a handful of factories have the skill and machinery to produce them properly. It took two years to find a new factory that could match the original quality (something I refused to compromise on), and a year later they were finally ready to re-launch.
There were plenty of other hurdles along the way, including major cashflow challenges, but I’m proud I didn’t give up. And hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards from here.
I’m inspired by…
From a business point of view, other women in business. It can feel lonely at times navigating it all on your own at times but I love speaking to fellow female founders, listening to podcasts and reading about their journeys. And then from a design perspective, I can feel inspired in the most random moments but generally when I am out and about, whether that’s a walk in nature or travelling – when I’m not forcing anything, those are always the times I feel the most inspired.
The current fashion trend I’m loving is…
I am generally finding people want to move to more sustainable fashion options where they can. Whether that’s renting pieces for big events, re-styling pieces you already own, or investing in timeless pieces. I think people are thinking about their purchasing choices more and the impact they have on the planet and people which is always a good thing.
My favourite piece to take on holiday is…
The espadrilles of course! Joking aside, I like to travel with just hand luggage as much as I can and shoes take up the most space so generally I will take one pair of wedges for the evening as they can be mixed and matched with all outfits and a pair of flats I travel in and then wear during the day when shoes are needed – otherwise it’s bare foot for me! And non DR – I can’t go anywhere without my Revlon blow dry brush!
My favourite place in the world to skip the crowds is…
My parents live in Dorset and the countryside around them is beautiful so a walk through the fields there is the perfect place to escape any crowds.
The best person to follow on Instagram for wedding inspo is…
Of course, it has to be The Wedding Edition.
And finally, what’s next for you…
I’m starting to plan bags for AW25 which will be followed shortly by SS26 planning. I also have a new idea for next summer that I’m really keen to develop and am excited at the prospect but it is just at the idea stage at the moment so watch this space…
Discover more here: didaritchie.com
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