Editor’s Note: In this Conscious Journeys feature, Silvia Olcese, founder of Macian, reflects on how a quiet walk through Tribeca became the spark behind a luxury shoe brand rooted in endurance, sustainability, and soul.
This isn’t a typical travel story but is shaped by movement, memory, and the slow rhythm of places that linger.
What It Means to Build Something That Lasts – By Silvia Olcese
It started with a walk. Not in a metaphorical sense — an actual walk. Years ago, while in New York for work, I remember slipping away one early morning before meetings to clear my head.
The streets were still quiet, and the city was not quite awake. I was walking through Tribeca and found myself struck by the way old met new: cast-iron façades and worn brickwork sitting beside gleaming storefronts and galleries.
There was a rhythm to it. A kind of permanence layered with movement.
I wasn’t thinking about shoes at the time. I was thinking about how rare it is to see something that holds its place with quiet confidence.
Not shouting, not demanding attention — just enduring. That moment stayed with me.
Years later, when I began sketching the idea for Macian, that same feeling returned. I didn’t want to make just another product. I wanted to create something that would last, something that felt rooted. Shoes just happened to be the medium.
Sustainability, for real
The word sustainability has been so overused that it starts to sound like a marketing checkbox. But for me, it’s very practical.
Sustainability is about what lasts. It’s about the decision to slow down — in the way you produce, in the way you consume, and in the way you think about value.
At Macian, we make all our shoes in Northamptonshire, the historic home of English shoemaking.
Every pair is Goodyear welted — a centuries-old method that allows shoes to be resoled many times. If cared for properly, a pair of Goodyear welted shoes can last twenty years or more.
That kind of durability is not just romantic — it’s necessary. More than 22 billion pairs of shoes are discarded each year and end up in landfills.
Often, they’re made of synthetic materials, bonded together in ways that make them nearly impossible to repair. I wanted to do the opposite: make fewer things better, and make them repairable by design.
That’s why we’ve also partnered with a London-based repair platform called Cicon. Customers can repair their Macian shoes and bring in footwear from other brands. It’s about giving people the tools to choose longevity, even if they’ve never been taught how.
The slow path
Founding a business with this kind of mindset is not the fastest way to grow. But I didn’t build Macian for speed. There are no seasonal drops, no fast turns.
We produce in small batches and don’t chase trends. Instead, we invest in timeless design, good leathers, and meaningful collaborations.
Every part of the process matters — and every part has to make sense in the long run.
How travel shapes values
Travel, for me, has always been less about escape and more about observation. The shoes I now design are partly shaped by what I’ve noticed while travelling — especially when walking.
I’ve spent time in cities like Florence and London, where the streets themselves seem to hold memory. Where the pace is slower, and the style is lived-in and personal, not prescribed.
Some of our customers have told me they’ve worn Macian boots on country weekends, gallery walks, and even long airport connections—and that they love how the shoes feel dependable and grounding but never heavy.
That balance means a lot to me.
In that way, I suppose Macian is a travel companion of sorts — but not the kind designed for short-term novelty. More like the shoes you bring because they’ve already been with you through seasons, stories, and rain-soaked lanes.
Looking ahead
We’re still small but growing, and I’m proud of that. Growth at Macian isn’t about mass production—it’s about depth, trust, and the right people finding us and staying.
I think there’s room for a new kind of luxury — one that doesn’t shout, and doesn’t compromise. One that allows you to feel beautiful and comfortable without giving up your values. That’s what I’m building, step by step.
And if it takes a bit longer, I’m okay with that.
The best things usually do.
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Silvia Olcese is the founder of Macian, a luxury women’s footwear brand crafted in England and inspired by a deep appreciation for heritage, craftsmanship, and artistic culture. With over a decade of experience in the fashion and luxury sector—including roles at Swatch, Michael Kors, and Ferragamo—Silvia combines strategic expertise with a passion for design and meaningful storytelling. Originally from Liguria and now based in Switzerland, she created Macian to offer shoes that blend tradition, contemporary style, and lasting quality.
