Miista may not be a household name—yet—but the London-based label has quietly built a reputation for thoughtful design and slow, deliberate craftsmanship. Founded in 2011 by Laura Villasenin, the brand began in a small studio in Bethnal Green with a simple goal: to make shoes differently. Not faster, not louder—but better.
Their latest release, the Nikoletta, is a testament to that vision. Inspired by the athletic forms of the 1980s—particularly boxing boots and football trainers—the sneaker blends nostalgia with restraint. It’s not a throwback, exactly, but a reinterpretation: familiar shapes, re-edited with a modern sense of proportion and texture.
Unlike many contemporary sneakers, the Nikoletta avoids overt branding or exaggerated bulk. Its silhouette is clean and low to the ground, with a soft fold-over tongue and a rubber outsole that nods to classic wrestling shoes. The upper is crafted entirely from goat leather, soft yet structured, with subtle side paneling that adds definition without shouting. It’s available in three understated colorways: black on black, black with white accents, and a deep brown/navy combination.
Miista’s approach to sneaker design doesn’t rely on high-tech gimmicks. Instead, it emphasizes material quality and artisanal process—merging traditional shoe-making techniques with a contemporary edge. As Villasenin puts it, “We never wanted to ‘arrive’ in the way the industry expects. That gives us the freedom to keep refining, to keep making.”
The Nikoletta retails at $415 and is available online and at Miista’s New York flagship.
Text by Marguerite de Ponty
29. MARCH. MMXXV. PLUM
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