Who is behind the development of Aylla shoes? Meet Katka and Tadeáš

Every barefoot model is the result of countless decisions. From the very first sketches and material selection to details you may not even notice at first glance. And behind all those decisions are real people.

At Aylla, Katka and Tadeáš design our shoes – and we thought you might like to get to know them a little better. We asked them about what they enjoy outside of work, how they found their way into shoe design, how they complement each other, and why their different personalities actually work so well together.

Katka and Tadeáš, the designers behind Aylla shoes

How would you describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Katka: I love creating things with people and working as part of a team. I enjoy inspiring others while also being inspired myself. I love travelling, discovering new ideas, and anything that broadens my horizons. I'm a Gemini, and it fits me quite well – I'm very curious by nature. I try to see the good in things and stay positive.

Tadeáš: Calm and easy-going. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. I'd rather listen than talk.

What do you enjoy most outside of work?

Katka: I love nature. I enjoy being around water, foraging for herbs, and I'm passionate about art, culture, and music. Whenever I can, you'll find me by a reservoir, hiking in the hills, or gathering herbs with a basket in hand. I love attending creative workshops and learning new skills. Lately, I've been fascinated by clay plasters. A friend of mine weaves textiles, so she's been teaching me that craft as well. Not long ago, I attended a workshop on weaving straw baskets.

I'm fascinated by traditional crafts that have survived in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I love natural materials, sustainable design, and everything that respects nature. When functionality, beauty, and sustainability come together, that's the perfect combination for me.

Tadeáš: I like to clear my head with low-stimulation activities. I'll go for a walk, take my motorcycle or bike for a ride, or stay home with a good book or film.

Do you remember your first pair of barefoot shoes?

Katka: The first inspiration came from friends of mine who had been wearing barefoot shoes for years. Whenever they visited, I always liked what they had on their feet. My first pair was a pair of barefoot sandals from Zlín. And because I love walking barefoot, I fell in love with barefoot shoes immediately.

Tadeáš: I do. 🙂 I only started wearing barefoot shoes after joining Aylla. My first pair was the black Nuna canvas shoes. At first, I alternated them with the iconic white Czech trainers, but eventually switched to barefoot shoes entirely.

It was summer. I had just graduated from university, started a new job, had a girlfriend, and I always looked forward to putting on my Nunas. I still have them, and every now and then I find myself looking at them for a moment. These days, I mostly wear prototypes.

How did you get into shoe design?

Katka: I started sketching shoes while studying fashion design in Zlín. As part of my bachelor's degree, we collaborated with Baťa. But actual shoe design only came later, when I joined Aylla. Until then, I focused mainly on clothing design and tailoring.

Tadeáš: By coincidence. I studied product design and, while still at university, I tried making a pair of slippers. But that was more of an exercise involving climbing ropes than real shoe design.

A few years later, while working on my master's thesis, our secretary at CTU sent students a job offer for a footwear developer at Aylla. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about this area of design, but it sounded interesting. Especially because shoes are such a universal product that almost everyone uses.

I was sitting late one evening in my shared flat in Prague and replied to the email. The rest, as they say, is history.

Which of you is the bigger perfectionist?

Katka: Tadeáš is definitely the bigger perfectionist, especially when it comes to the technical side of things. I'm more of a free spirit, but I care about details too. Some things need to be done over and over again until I'm satisfied with the result.

Tadeáš: Hmm, hard to say. 🙂 I think Katka and I approach details on a shoe pretty much the same way. Equally obsessively. 🙂 But if we're talking about true perfectionism, for better or worse, it's probably me.

How do you complement each other?

Katka: That's actually where our team is nicely balanced. I'm passionate about colours, materials, and trends. Tadeáš keeps things grounded and is very thorough on the technical side. He brings structure and order, while I build everything else around it.

Tadeáš: Katka helps me a lot with materials and colours in our collections. She also helps decide which products should be added to the collection and which ones should be left out.

In return, I help her with technical and technological aspects or things like sole design. She has her head in the clouds, which is probably a necessity for creative people. I want to have my head in the clouds too, but at the same time keep my feet firmly on the ground (being tall and skinny probably helps 🙂).

That's why I always try to listen carefully to Katka's ideas, although sometimes I need to bring them back down to earth a little. In general, it's great to have someone you can bounce ideas off before making decisions.

What do you most often disagree about during development?

Katka: Usually when I start branching out too much and adding more and more ideas. Footwear is actually a very practical field; it's not fashion in the traditional sense. You need to engage the analytical side of your brain and stay grounded.

Tadeáš: Hmm, nothing specific comes to mind right now. Maybe there are moments when I'm a little more practical than necessary and Katka is a little more free-spirited. But I'm really grateful for how well we work together. When it comes to the important decisions, we're usually on the same page.

What's the hardest part of designing shoes?

Katka: Definitely the technical side. Clothing is also a functional product, but it covers a much larger area of the body. A shoe is small. You have to be much more precise and detail-oriented. In a way, I'd compare it more to jewellery. The difference is that a shoe also affects a person's anatomy. That brings a much greater level of responsibility.

Tadeáš: Different designers would probably answer this differently. For me, designing shoes for children is a bit harder than designing for adults. I can't try them on myself, fully put myself in a child's shoes, and it's more difficult to get constructive feedback from children.

On top of that, with children's shoes, the customer and the user are often two different people. I'm designing for the parent who buys the shoes as well as for the child who wears them.

Which Aylla model is closest to your heart and why?

Katka: I really like INCA because of its material. It's simple, raw, and has a clean design without unnecessary elements. From the new collection, I like RURAQ for its combination of materials and its cut. I'm also fond of WAYRA.

I'm drawn to ethnic-inspired design, which is something I feel we're still missing a little. If I had to choose purely for myself, it would be UMA and SULLA.

Tadeáš: Probably Inca II because of its versatility. It can do much more than it might seem at first glance, yet it never tries too hard to impress. It's like a quiet, carefree butler who can even get rid of a body when necessary. 😀

INCA II is Tadeáš's favourite model

If you could design absolutely anything without limitations, what would it be?

Katka: I'd love to design some interesting ethnic-inspired moccasins or summer boots made from soft leather or suede. Something very feminine in the spirit of UMA or SULLA. I'll leave sneakers and outdoor footwear to the men.

Tadeáš: I've held on to my childhood dream of designing a car one day. So maybe someday. But I definitely enjoy creating things beyond our shoes as well.