Radical Yes!

"At Radical Yes! our philosophy is to move with consideration through the world. We ‘hasten slowly’ by working with purpose, thinking things through - and then taking action."

Kerryn Moscicki’s words set the tone for an inspiring journey into the heart of Radical Yes!, a women’s shoe store unlike any other in Melbourne.

Radical Yes! stands as a testament to the dreams and determination of its founders, husband-and-wife duo Leo and Kerryn. The couple met while working in the fashion industry and always thought they’d like to start a business of their own.

“In 2013 we got an opportunity from one of my old footwear makers to start a label,” says Kerryn. “I was on a break, teaching yoga at the time, but Leo and I thought we could give it a go by producing a range of shoes for women. But only flat shoes - I wanted to create a shoe that I could wear from the yoga class to my fashion job.”

The brand name came to Kerryn while she was reading a book by yoga practitioner Donna Farhi, who argued that yoga was a radical and subversive practice.

“She said that yoga was the radical act of seeking true self, being independent and moving fearlessly through the world. I thought this was exactly what I wanted our brand to embody,” smiles Kerryn.
“And the ‘Yes!’ is an homage to my mother, my best friend, who was an unfailingly positive person. That’s why there’s an exclamation mark in our name - it feels emphatically exuberant!”

Their first range was picked up by high-end street style store FAT, and in the meantime Leo created a website so that they could sell directly to customers. Their direct-to-consumer business took off from there.

In 2015 Leo and Kerryn ventured into bricks and mortar retail, opening a pop-up store at Queen Victoria Market that was meant to last for only six months but blossomed into a two-year venture.

Afterwards they moved into their current space in Queensberry Street North Melbourne, an unusual location for a retail store at the time. It’s now the only home for their distinctive style of footwear, bags and eyewear, all designed with a keen eye for quality and sustainability.

While Leo and Kerryn produce a new range every season, they cleverly only create a few lasts or silhouettes. They then apply different upper materials and patterns to develop each new range.

“We’ve developed the outsole mould ourselves. It’s been obsessively abrasion tested and we’ve added little unexpected style elements to it,” explains Leo. “This enables us to produce relatively short runs of each style that we keep repeating. It also helps our customers who like a particular style to keep coming back again and again for new colours or designs.”

Their loyal customers are the brand's biggest advocates, drawn to the unique and bold aesthetic that Radical Yes! embodies.

"Our customer is a modern inner-city woman who is creative, professional and busy," Leo explains. "They’re juggling lots of things so flat shoes are practical. But they’re also a style statement. These women are not interested in wearing heels; flat shoes are cooler and tougher."

Radical Yes! isn't just a store; it's a concept.

“Our fitting salon in North Melbourne is a magical space where women can feel inspired, creative, and almost part of a secret club. It's a place where our customers find not just shoes but a sense of creativity; where fashion isn't about conformity but self-expression.

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio