Shoe Designer Emme Parsons is a Palm Beach Minimalist.

We Talk Friendship, Korean Beauty, and Collecting Vinyl.

Nov 27, 2023

Emme Parsons is one of those magical friends I met amid her own renaissance, in a moment where we were both extraordinarily open. Making new friendships can be challenging in adulthood, but Emme made it so easy to like her that it felt like we’d known each other for far longer. She’s a designer who is sparked by all the right things: wanting to set an excellent example for her son, to have something of her own in the world, and craving creative expression in a new medium.

Her shoes are classically European both in design and manufacturing. “Blending logic and feeling, the label’s core ethos is rooted in eloquent utilitarianism,” she says. “A belief that function should have meaning and that pure design should be unobtrusive yet emotional.”

That same rigor translates to ethics. Her shoes are sustainably made, from metal-free and vegetable-tanning leather (her tanneries use non-biodegradable dyes) to Italian factories that maintain good working conditions. In packaging, she eliminates all plastic bagging and ensures that her shoe boxes are at least 50% recycled cardboard. Even her shoe lasts are composed of recycled plastic. In philanthropy, non-profits supported via volunteer work and donations include the American Civil Liberties Union and Save The Children.

In short, Emme Parsons is a label (and a woman) with a lot of heart, down to the monikers of her shoe styles, affectionately named after her friends.

Shop Emme Parsons

JG: Have you seen any inspiring exhibits lately? Any great live shows? Any great TV or movies? EP: Not surprisingly, I loved the Netflix Beckham documentary, just like everyone else. This summer, I started taking Italian lessons. I rewatched I Am Love (Io Sono L’Amore), a film by Luca Guadagnino, and it was just as good as when I initially saw it in the theater. His new film, Challengers, also looks fantastic.

Who is your current Instagram girl crush (or boy crush)? Someone who always seems to move you to act -- who makes great recommendations online? Gabriela Rosales, who owns the furniture gallery Formative Modern in Los Angeles, is so chic and beautiful. She has an incredible eye for unique Italian and French pieces from the 1920s and 30s. I also love Scout Vintage for inspiration and try to go there whenever I’m in LA.

New arrivals from Emme: Veneto pump in gold, Danielle loafer in snake print, High Throat ballerina in black crystal mesh

What's on your travel docket for the rest of 2023? What are you packing? I’m based in Palm Beach and go to New York once or twice a month; it is essentially a reverse commute. Now that the world has opened again, I like to fly to other cities and countries from New York, with more direct flight options. So, in December, I’ll go to New York, London, and Florence for market appointments and product development for our SS25 collection. Generally, my wardrobe consists of neutral colors and primarily high-quality pieces that don’t feel overly trend-driven. I plan to pack this Mijeong Park coat, these Attersee pants and their knitwear, these High Sport pants, this bag from the Row, a black Wardrobe dress, and our new Stretch Boots. Whenever possible, I try to support my friend's brands and wear their pieces. These Spalwart sneakers are also lovely to travel in, and they are supportive enough for a two or three-mile morning run to help ease jet lag.

What's in your cart right now? They are big investment pieces –a Sherman Field necklace and Prada High Waisted Stretch Pants - so they are still in my cart.

Emme and her son at age four. Photo: Jenny Westerhoff.

What's the last thing you read that you loved? My best friend Lauren Sherman’s bi-weekly Puck newsletter, Line Sheet, and Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors.

What's the best advice about love you ever received? About business? About friendship? Go with the flow.

What's your advice for someone who finds entrepreneurship difficult or lonely? Actively work to befriend people, especially women you admire, even if you find them intimidating. The ones who join your inner circle will inspire you and push you to become a better version of yourself.

Drop a beauty secret. Go to Korea for beauty treatments because they have the most cutting-edge techniques and technology for a fraction of the cost of services in the US.

What do you collect? Why? Vinyl records. I started buying them when I was 14 and hope to pass my collection on to my children someday. There’s something so nice about listening to an album with an A side and B side and the tactile feel of an album with 12x12 inch artwork, and liner notes that the ease of digital music can’t fully replicate.

Describe your perfect Saturday morning. I get up at 5:30 AM, make a coffee, take a 30-minute walk around my neighborhood, and then drive to the beach for a swim. I love the way the water and the sky become one when you’re floating in the middle of the ocean. I try to make my mind feel this expansive and open for the rest of the day.