Article 3
We asked Dr. Mika what the biggest hurdle in making her shoes was - her story should resonate with those who are doing anything ‘new’ in this world.
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Eiko: So Dr. Mika, what was the biggest challenge in making your designs come to reality?
Mika: I think it has to be the fact that I had to ask someone else to make the product for me. Unlike most shoe designers who come from shoe making backgrounds, I didn’t come from the manufacturing side - after all, my professional background is in podiatry! So not having access to the manufacturing part and begging, asking someone to make exactly what I imagined in my head and drawings, that was the hardest part.
Eiko: You have to find the right person you can trust to make your vision come alive.
Mika: If you think about it, if you want to make the world’s first iPhone when you don’t have an iPhone yet, traditional manufacturers will think either you are crazy or that is just not possible. And when I actually went around to various manufacturers, they just turned my idea down, especially because I didn’t have a shoe manufacturing background.
Eiko: So how did you convince them to create these shoes for you in the beginning?
Mika: Well, I was finally able to convince a manufacturer that “shoes and feet are next to each other, and my medical knowledge can make current shoes much better!”
Eiko: That’s so true. You understand the anatomy best. I mean, you have engineers for the tech world, while the shoe industry is led by designers - and not podiatrists. You are the expert here, if you shift your perspective.
Mika: While the technology world is evolving daily, I used to argue why is it that in the shoe world they do the same job for centuries and I concluded that it was the lack of willingness to change. So of course after I confronted my thoughts to master shoemakers, them being artists and having pride in their work and tradition, they sent me away most of the time!
Eiko: Did their reaction ever give you any doubts?
Mika: Sure - I told myself many, many times: they are the “shoe experts” and they know all about shoes. So maybe they are right that they can’t make the shoes I was dreaming of, although logically speaking I was convinced that it should be possible and my way should work because they make more sense medically. There definitely were daily struggles. I went back and forth. One day I would think they are right, I’m wrong. The next day, I would change my mind and start working again, knowing that I have to be right. It was a repeat cycle of “doubt myself, fall but get up again and rise”.
I now look at the very first prototype and I laugh how far I have come, although my effort was nothing compared to what James Dyson went through for his vacuum cleaner (5127 prototypes)!
Eiko: I’m glad you listened to yourself and not the doubters, though I can see how difficult it is to introduce anything new to the world when there are already these ‘existing’ experts. It’s so important to remind yourself that you are the expert, too! Over 5,000+ prototypes for Dyson! That’s a lot of iteration - but shows how passionate he was and now look at where the Dyson brand has become - they even have a hairdryer now. Dyson basically founded a core technology of blowing air which is now translated into many products. Similarly, I have high vision and hope for the brand, Dr.Mika! Thank you for sitting with me to discuss, I am again truly inspired.
