Gina is a family business born out of a love story. Founded by master shoemaker Mehmet Kurdash in 1954, a Turkish Cypriot, it was his father’s passing that forced young Mehmet to take care of the family. Taking a job at his uncle’s shoe factory in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus at age nineteen, Mehmet entered into his life’s work. Excelling in shoemaking and pattern cutting, young Mehmet left Cyprus with the plans of starting a new life in Australia, but first stopped in England. There he met Margaret Pauli, who had plans to head to India and work with the Red Cross. The two fell in love and found themselves making other plans, deciding to stay together in England. They married, and later launched the family business together.
Mesmerized by his muse, Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, Mehmet started making handmade shoes. “My dad didn’t have the money for raw materials, so he used to salvage components from worn shoes and use the little cash he did have to buy leather,” shares another son Attila Kurdash in house notes. As people began to buy his shoes Mehmet was able to buy more stock and another shoe sewing machine, finally setting up his factory in London’s Dalston where it stayed for forty years until his three sons, modernised and relocated it to Tottenham.
Gina's designs have graced the feet of royalty, celebrities, and fashion icons. Princess Diana was a treasured customer, and at that time they proudly held the Royal Warrant.
They hold the rare distinction of still designing and handcrafting all of their footwear in London using the finest Italian leathers, exquisite materials, and Austrian crystals from Swarovski®. Unlike many British brands, their commitment to British craftsmanship has been unwavering. A brand that has always been UK made, with its high-tech 4,000+ SQ foot facility in London, Gina doesn’t show signs of slowing down.
From humble origins to a global reputation for excellence, the threads of a unique 70 year history are entwined with a tale of true love and an inspiring immigrant success story.
It’s London stores and Harrod’s boutique ooze luxury with a calm, minimal aesthetic surrounded by a glittering array of gorgeous, colourful shoes. And if you’re lucky enough you might see Aydin Kurdash working behind the counter with his daughter and wife Angela who’s always close by. Gina, though international with all its collaborations, is still a family affair. And as they celebrate their 70th year of ‘Made in London’, they remain as committed as ever to creating irresistible objects of desire for the world's most discerning clientele.
