We first met Anna Melegh in 2022, when her surrealist design Haute Couture Trash won the Footwear Category of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition. Inspired by household waste during lockdown, her entry challenged conventions around fashion, function and sustainability.
Since then, Anna has continued to blur the boundaries between art and design, gaining international recognition, exhibiting new collections and even branching into film and product design. In a full-circle moment, she returned to RLSD in 2024 – this time as a member of the international judging panel.
We caught up with Anna to reflect on her process, her evolving approach to materials – and where she’s headed next.
Anna Melegh reciveing award 2022, Anna Melegh on Judges Panel 2024
Anna Melegh, winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Design Competition Footwear Category in 2022, has made a name for herself by pushing the boundaries in footwear design.
Anna’s work blends surrealism with innovative techniques and meets the highest sustainability standards. She creates shoes that are beyond fashion and function–they are thought-provoking works of art.
“We should dare to think more outside of the box in terms of designs and ideas, as well as materials.”
“I began to question why things that should last do not, and why those that should not, do.”
Anna’s journey into footwear design was preceded by a deep connection to art. She grew up in an artistic family but she was drawn to working with leather, studying at the Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest. She completed a BA in Footwear and Accessories at Northampton and an MA at the London College of Fashion in 2022.
Her RLSD winning design, Haute Couture Trash, was born during the pandemic. “I started making shoes out of household waste during lockdown,” Anna explains. “The lack of studios and the makeshift method I used influenced the outcome of the boots. I began to question why things that should last do not, and those that should not, do.”
Anna’s vision for the collection was to challenge traditional perceptions of materials. “Could a bin bag be turned into a fashion piece?” she asks. This led her to experiment with upcycling, blending unexpected materials like wood, leather and even screen printing to create surreal shoes that forced the viewer to rethink consumerism.
“I love problem-solving and being on the line between fashion and art.”
Since her win, Anna has refined her design philosophy. “I always felt drawn to surrealism and functional objects, especially those that trick the viewer,” she says. “My shoes are about stopping the viewer and asking – ‘Is this a shoe, or something else?’” She strives to create footwear that challenges norms, focusing on intricate pattern cutting and unexpected textures.
Anna’s ability to see materials differently is inspirational. Her unconventional approach to fashion and the way she transforms everyday items into art is truly exciting. At RLSD we love her unique vision that combines fashion, art and sustainability.
Her need to create something unique and complex is evident in her work. “I don’t enjoy making regular shoes like a Derby or an Oxford unless there’s something different going on. I love problem-solving and being on the line between fashion and art.”
Since she won the Real Leather. Stay Different.competition, Anna’s career has really gained momentum, with the wider recognition she has received leading to a series of creative collaborations.
Branching out into video her first animation was shortlisted in the top five for the Fashion Film category at the FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht – marking a bold expansion of her visual storytelling.
Anna was selected for the prestigious Kozma Lajos Applied Art Scholarship in 2024, through which she unveiled a new boot collection in an exhibition in Budapest. Beyond footwear, she also ventured into product design, partnering with Champagne ‘Patrick Boivin’ to create bespoke packaging for their limited-edition Blanc de Blancs release – a testament to her expanding creative reach.
Sustainability is central to Anna’s design process. “Sustainability is always in my mind, whether I’m designing shoes or greeting cards, which are printed on recycled paper,” she explains. “I focus on creating long-lasting items that can be repaired if necessary.” Her experience at Christian Louboutin, where she worked on prolonging the lifespan of shoes, has influenced her approach to design. She’s now exploring ways to use off-cut leather waste and upcycle unusual materials.
Anna’s work also reflects her interest in experimenting with textures. “I’ve worked on creating fur-like leather, or using materials that mimic food like cheese or salad,” she says. Her ability to combine different textures while maintaining the functionality of the footwear is a testament to her artistic vision.
It’s been inspiring to witness Anna’s evolving approach, seamlessly blending high fashion with purposeful design, all while remaining steadfast in her commitment to innovation and sustainability
Anna’s journey has been one of rediscovery and refinement. “I now lean towards a slower, high-quality fashion. I want to create one-of-a-kind pieces, working with stylists to showcase them as art,” she explains. This shift reflects a deeper return to her roots – her earliest experiments in design began in the modest setting of her high school workshop. “Our tools were limited, but my tutors had a can-do attitude,” she recalls, “That mindset has stayed with me.”
Now crafting shoes from a small flat in London, Anna draws on a decade of learning and experience, weaving technical skill with artistic vision. Her approach to fashion has evolved into something more intentional and expressive: “I see myself making statement shoes for displays, photoshoots, or stage performances,” she says, reaffirming her desire to blur the line between wearable design and artistic statement.
“You never know who you might work with. Apply for every relevant competition you can – and network, network, network!”
Looking ahead, Anna has her sights set on establishing a dedicated studio space in London. “Having my own space would allow me to create more,” she shares. A studio would give her the freedom to scale her production – making multiple pairs per design, something that’s currently limited by space constraints.
To aspiring designers, Anna offers clear and practical advice: “You never know who you might work with. Apply for every relevant competition you can – and network, network, network!”
We’ve been proud to support and celebrate Anna’s growth as both a designer and an artist. It was a full-circle moment to welcome her back in 2024 – not as a contestant, but as a judge on the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Design Competition 2024 panel. Seeing her take a seat on the other side of the competition panel was a testament to how far she’s come. We’re excited to follow her next chapter and can’t wait to see where her creative path leads.
To read the full interview with Anna Melegh, click here.
To see more of Anna’s work, visit her Instagram here.
Stay tuned for more ‘Where are they now’ interviews with the RLSD Alumni
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