Calancea Irina

About

Irina Calancea is an outstanding footwear designer from the Republic of Moldova, the founder of the Irka Shoes brand, launched in 2011 after she gave up a career in insurance to pursue her creative passion. With studies in fashion design, she handcrafts natural leather shoes that are comfortable and of superior quality, adapting to international trends without copying them, and creating original collections twice a year, such as 'Dor de tricolor' (Longing for the Tricolor), inspired by the colors of the Moldovan and Romanian flags. Her business grew rapidly, producing around 50 pairs monthly, 80% on order, and recently expanding to men's footwear, with prices between 1,500 and 3,200 lei. Irka Shoes products have reached European markets—Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Israel, Lebanon—and America, including the United States, where clients from the diaspora and beyond appreciate the uniqueness of the designs, including customized prints for brides. Irina opened a store in Chișinău in 2012, collaborates with workshops in Bucharest for production, and participates in local and Romanian exhibitions, such as the 'Din Inimă' event or Rome Fashion Week, promoting the local product. Although she invests minimally from her own sources, she dreams of larger international exhibitions, noting differences in preferences: women in Moldova choose classic colors, unlike those in Romania, who are more courageous in experiments. Irina's personal life is marked by the constant longing between Chișinău and Bucharest, where she lives and works, missing her mother, sister, and friends depending on the country. Her entrepreneurial determination, focus on affordable quality, and innovations such as vouchers for marriage proposals with the right shoe define her as an independent woman passionate about fashion, who inspires through unique creations tailored to the dreams of clients worldwide.