Alexa Buckley and Sarah Pierson, two college roommates turned co-founders, are reimagining luxury footwear. Together, the two launched Margaux: a brand making shoes that meet the needs of modern life.
Tell us about yourselves! Where are you both from? How did you all meet during your freshman year?
Alexa: I grew up just outside of Philadelphia, and now live in the West Village in New York.
Sarah: And I’m originally from Winter Park, a small town in Central Florida. I now live in Chelsea, just a quick walk from our office—and Alexa!
We serendipitously met at a cab stand at the very beginning of our freshman year at Harvard, and friends at first sight. We became roommates the following year and lived together for the rest of our college career. It wasn't until our senior year that we began dreaming up our vision for Margaux, though.
Fast forward four years: what led you to the idea for Margaux? What was it like taking the leap of faith to launch a company right out of college?
We launched Margaux with the mission of creating beautiful products that met the demands of modern life—and along the way, redefining the way that shoes are sized and sold. After spending time working summers in consulting and finance, we were all too familiar with the under-the-desk shoe shuffle from beat-up flats to heels, and back again. We were convinced that there should be (and could be) a shoe that combined form and function, that made women feel dressed and beautiful—while remaining comfortable—all day long.
Working together for nearly five years now has strengthened our friendship in ways we never could have imagined: By now, it is more of a sisterhood than a friendship. We share a brain (which often means showing up to meetings in the exact same outfit—accessories and all) and know that no matter what, we will always put each other first before anything else. We've learned so much from each other, both as partners and as friends, and can't imagine building this business any other way.
Sarah, you recently gave us all a peek into your vendor trip to Spain on Stories. How did you land on sourcing from Spain, and what sets the quality apart? How do you achieve such an incredible level of comfort?
We first found our way to this wonderful family-owned factory in Spain through two members of our team—a husband-and-wife duo who have been working in the footwear industry for decades. Their careers have taken them from factories in Italy and France to Brazil, China, New York, and elsewhere. And for several years, they lived and worked in the Spanish town where we now produce. While the footwear world tends to be stubborn in its commitment to tradition, and heavily male-dominated, we had an instant connection with our factory’s team: they’re young, forward-thinking, and excited about the potential of marrying old-world techniques with modern methods and concepts.
Spain has such a rich history of footwear manufacturing that dates back generations. The factory that we produce in makes shoes for some of the most coveted brands in the world, and the components we use are sourced from the same suppliers used by European-made designer labels. Because we sell directly to our customers, we’re able to offer designer-quality products at fair prices—and extended sizes our customers can’t find anywhere else.
As for the comfort, that starts from the ground up. Every decision we make and every step in the design process is guided by our aim to strike the perfect balance of style and comfort. We’ll tweak silhouettes for years before launching them to ensure the comfort is unparalleled—and even after that, never stop iterating.
You’re based in the City that Never Sleeps (where a comfortable shoe is a must!) Which shoe will we catch each of you in about town?
Alexa: The Demi - it is my “gaux-to” all year round.
Sarah: I’m counting down to the warmer weather so I can bring out my City Sandals: I live in these shoes all summer long.
How do you make sure you are enjoying your stay on the daily?
Alexa: First, I’m a morning person, so early morning “robe time” in my Weezie robe is a sacred ritual. I take this time to enjoy my coffee, create my to-do lists, organize my thoughts, and have a few quiet minutes to myself before the race of the day begins.
I’ve also learned that taking a break to unplug from work for dinner (even if I’m logging right back on afterward) has become an important part of “enjoying the stay” in my everyday routine. Sitting down and spending quality time with the people I love - whether family or friends - for great conversation and a delicious meal is one of my favorite parts of the day. It fuels me with energy and I try to make it a priority as often as I can.
Sarah: While Alexa and I are similar in so many ways, this is where we differ! I’ve never been a morning person (as much as I’ve tried to make myself one), and treasure quiet evenings at home. With all of us homebound at the moment, having a drink and taking a moment to appreciate the quiet of present life is such an important ritual: at a time and in a place where hours, days, and weeks seem to blend together, it marks the end of the workday—a way of saying to myself, relax, you’re done.
Sartorially speaking, I am a big believer in buying the things you love and wearing them well and often. It’s tempting to put the things we love on a shelf thinking we’re keeping them safe and sound for the right moment—but what fun is that if you can never wear what you love most? Whether it’s a sentimental piece of jewelry, a staple bag, or the perfect ballet flat, I’ll wear my favorite things again and again. If they wear out, that’s alright—that’s a sign of a piece well-loved.
Current brand crush?"It’s tempting to put the things we love on a shelf thinking we’re keeping them safe and sound for the right moment—but what fun is that if you can never wear what you love most?"
Alexa: Kule! I live in their striped shirts, and love toting their whimsical canvas bags around in place of grocery or gym bags.
Sarah: Coco Shop’s vintage-inspired prints and breezy styles have me dreaming of the sunny days ahead—This beloved Antiguan resort-wear brand was revived by a good friend of ours last year and has all the sunny staples you’ll need for your next getaway.
Favorite Interior Designer to follow?
Alexa: Alyssa Kapito - she is a dear friend and a brilliant designer.
Sarah: Isabel Lopez Quesada and Barrie Benson, for eclectic, layered interiors.
Favorite coffee table book?
Alexa: Heart Talk by Cleo Wade. It’s not a traditional coffee table book, per se, but it’s my favorite thing on my side table right now.
Sarah: The Cabana Anthology—part showstopping-cover, part design magazine with the best of the magazine’s stories, interviews, and photos combined into one weighty volume.
Favorite artist or art gallery?
Sarah: The Neue Galerie in New York flies under the radar, but is such a treat to visit. They have a gorgeous collection of Klimt paintings, and any visit must end with a trip to Cafe Sabarsky—the wood-paneled Austrian cafe on the first floor.
Last show you binge-watched, last book you read, or last podcast episode you really loved?
Sarah: This is a bit of a throwback, but it feels so relevant to what we all need right now: The inaugural Goop podcast was an interview with Oprah, and is a master class in bringing purposes and intention to things both little and big.
Ok, quickfire round! Pick one:
Sarah:
Bubble bath or shower? Shower
Wallpaper or paint? Wallpaper
Towel bar or hook? Hook
Towel time sips: tea or tini? Tini
Alexa:
Bubble bath or shower? Shower
Wallpaper or paint? Wallpaper
Towel bar or hook? Bar
Towel time sips: tea or tini? Tini
Crushing on co-founders? Us too! Check out our recent Hype Girls Neely and Chloe, co-founders of the chic direct to consumer handbag company, Neely & Chole.
