1. What is your name? Where did you grow up?
My name is Kathryn Eisman. I grew up in Australia and started working in media at a young age, which gave me an early sense of independence and curiosity.
I moved to New York when I was 21 on a book tour for my first book How to Tell a Man by His Shoes, and went on to live and work between New York and Los Angeles for nearly 17 years. That chapter shaped everything, the pace, the proximity to culture, and the access to people operating at the highest level. It also taught me how to walk very quickly in heels, which turns out to be a life skill.
I now run my global brand, High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman, from Australia.
I’m also a mother of two, which has probably been my greatest teacher. It brings you back to what matters very quickly and keeps you grounded, no matter what’s happening professionally.
2. Did you have mentors growing up? If so, who influenced you the most?
I’ve been surrounded by strong women, starting with my family.
My grandmother was a successful fashion entrepreneur, but what stayed with me most was how she lived. She was incredibly sharp and chic, deeply committed to philanthropic work, and always put her family first. She had this elegant strength that didn’t need to announce itself, which I’ve always admired.
My mother, Sylvia, has also been a huge influence. She has a global perspective and always encouraged me to pursue my creative passions. She never tried to make life smaller or safer for me, which I’m very grateful for now.
Later, working in New York and Los Angeles, I was lucky to be around women operating at a very high level. But the foundation was built much earlier. It showed me you can be ambitious and kind, driven and thoughtful. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
3. What is your current occupation and what led you to pursue this career path?
I’m the Founder and Creative Director of High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman, a global fashion accessories brand redefining socks, tights, gloves, and footcare as tools of self-expression.
Before launching High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman, I spent over a decade as a television journalist, interviewing thousands of celebrities and working across platforms like the TODAY Show in New York and E! News. It gives you a front row seat to how culture is crafted and shaped in real time.
The idea for High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman came from a gap I kept seeing and experiencing. Liek me, Stylists, celebrities, and women were constantly searching for accessories that felt elevated and directional, especially in categories like hosiery and gloves. The options just weren’t there in a meaningful way.
So I built it, somewhat naively at the start, which in hindsight was probably helpful.
Today, High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman is worn by women like Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Rita Ora, Hailey Bieber, and Elle Fanning, and stocked globally in retailers including Nordstrom, Free People, Anthropologie, Shopbop, The Iconic and our own platform www.HighHeelJungle.com
We’ve grown without paid marketing, which I’m proud of, but it’s also been a lot of work behind the scenes. It’s never quite as effortless as it might look.
At its core, High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman is about taking something traditionally overlooked and turning it into the most considered part of an outfit. The piece that quietly changes how you feel when you walk into a room.
We also launched The After Party by High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman, which came from solving my own problem. Years of heels, long days, and literally pounding the pavement as a journalist. It’s something you slip on at the end of the day to help undo the damage we do to our feet.
4. What are you passionate about and what inspires you the most on a daily basis?
I’m passionate about the psychology of what we wear and how it shapes how we show up.
That’s really the foundation of High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman. It’s not just about how something looks, but how it makes you feel, and how that translates into confidence.
It’s something I’ve explored throughout my career, from my books on the psychology of fashion to co-creating and starring in Undressed with Kathryn Eisman, which looked at transformation through clothing in a very real, human way. It was never really about the clothes, it was about what the clothes unlocked.
I’m also inspired by building. Refining product, improving systems, growing something from the ground up. It’s not always glamorous, and there are plenty of moments where you question your life choices, but overall it’s incredibly rewarding.
And I’m constantly inspired by women who are doing a lot, building businesses, raising families, managing everything with grace. There’s something very impressive about that.
5. What do you believe are your five keys to success?
Clarity. Know your point of view and stay close to it.
Consistency. Show up, even when it feels repetitive.
Product integrity. This has been central to High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman from day one.
Resilience. Things go wrong constantly, you just get better at handling it.
Self-trust. Back yourself early, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable.
6. Do you have any hobbies?
I prioritise movement and health. Pilates, and I’ve recently started strength training, which has been slightly humbling.
I also genuinely enjoy the creative side of building High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman, from product development to directing shoots.
7. What’s next in business? Where do you see yourself in five years time?
The focus now is scaling High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman globally. The US is our largest market.
We’ve built a very loyal, passionate community around High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman, which I value so deeply.
In five years, I’d love to see High Heel Jungle by Kathryn Eisman as the global authority in this space. A brand that has genuinely shifted how women think about what they wear and sharing these messages directly with women and encouraging us all to pursue their own dreams.
And personally, continuing to grow alongside it, as a founder, as a creative, and as a mother. Hopefully a slightly more rested version.
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