MALLET LONDON: AN INTERVIEW WITH EVREN OZKA [CREATIVE PROFILE] INSPIRING 2025 INTERVIEW
MALLET LONDON: AN INTERVIEW – Mallet London is more than a sneaker brand; it’s a masterclass in modern aspiration, translating the dynamic energy of the city into distinctive, sculpted footwear. Founded by Evren Ozka, the brand has carved out a premium niche defined by its bold silhouettes and instantly recognisable, architectural sole units. From the early breakthrough of the BTLR Pack to innovative leaps with 3D-printed designs, Mallet has consistently redefined luxury street style.
In this exclusive interview for VIPER Magazine, we sit down with Evren to discuss how London’s skyline influences the sole of a Mallet sneaker, the ambitious lengths he went to secure the brand’s first major stockist, and his vision for Mallet’s future—a future built on continuous evolution and unwavering London attitude. Get ready to walk through the journey of a brand that’s always striving for the next level.
Which non-fashion creative field has most inspired Mallet’s signature design, especially the sole units?
Architecture. London’s streets and skyline have an energy that always inspires me. The Neptune and our Zellerfeld 3D-printed Nebula were both influenced by The Gherkin’s curves and structure, I’ve always loved translating architectural shapes into sculpted soles.
What emotion or feeling are you aiming to sell to the Mallet customer when they put on your shoes?
Aspiration. I want people to feel like they’re stepping into the best version of themselves confident, capable, and ready for whatever the day brings.
Describe the most technically challenging Mallet sneaker you’ve ever developed, and what that hurdle taught you.
Every season brings new challenges, but our recent Detroit collaboration coming out early 2026 stands out. The hand-painted and dip-dyed techniques were tough to scale for production. It taught me just how important strong supplier relationships are when you’re pushing boundaries.
Walk us through the most surprising step in the Mallet design process, from concept to final product.
Definitely the sole-unit journey. We only work with bespoke soles, so going from CAD drawings to 3D renders and then seeing that first resin or silicone mould is always a moment. Approving the tooling and committing to that big investment is both exciting and daunting.
How do you ensure the Mallet DNA remains strong while adapting to global market demands?
By listening to how our customers live today. Our early shoes were built for nightlife, but lifestyles have shifted toward comfort, versatility and daywear. We evolve with them while keeping our London attitude, bold silhouettes and premium feel at the core.
As a premium brand, what is Mallet’s core philosophy on sustainability and ethical material sourcing?
We focus on making better choices wherever we can, from working with Leather Working Group tanneries to using recycled nylons and recycled board in our packaging. Being recognised by De Bijenkorf as a green supplier was a nice moment, and I’m proud of our partnership with Re-Skinned, which allows customers to return old pairs to be cleaned, resold or responsibly recycled. It’s about continuous improvement.
What is the most promising trend in the current footwear market, and which one needs to disappear?
I’m excited by 3D printing and how it’s evolving manufacturing. Advances in sole technology and energy return are also making footwear more comfortable than ever. We’ve recently introduced recycled Ortholite insoles to support that. As for what needs to disappear: overly narrow shoes. People deserve space and comfort.
Which contemporary figure or brand do you most admire for their ability to build a cult following?
There are so many founder-led brands becoming more visible through social media, and it’s inspiring to see how they connect with their communities. But for us, it always comes back to the team at MALLET and winning “Team of the Year” at the Drapers Footwear Awards was a real highlight.
What is the single greatest achievement in Mallet’s history so far, and what is your next major goal?
I’m most focused on what’s ahead. 2026 is shaping up to be a major year as we move into new categories and opportunities that will take the brand to a completely different level.
If one Mallet shoe was preserved in a museum, which silhouette would it be and what design element would you want it to highlight?
The BTLR Pack. It was our first big breakthrough and defined our early design language. I’d want the museum to highlight the heel clip, such an iconic part of our identity.
When launching Mallet, what was your earliest career challenge?
Finding our tone of voice in a crowded market. The early colourways and silhouettes were bold, and the industry didn’t always know what to make of them.
How did you overcome this and launch the brand?
Bringing on a designer and creating the BTLR Pack gave us direction. But the real shift happened when I stood on the shop floor of our first stockist and watched how real customers interacted with the shoes. That insight directly led to the Midnight Pack, the moment the brand really took off.
Another key moment was our first meeting with Selfridges. We walked in with a mock stock list and told them we had a product in production that would be ready in three weeks. In reality, we had nothing. I ended up sleeping on the factory floor to make sure every pair got made and shipped on time. That experience showed me how far we were willing to go to make this brand happen.
