THE START

Freedom is being limitless. Making our own path. Writing our own script. Being masters of our own fate.

Freedom doesn’t care about age, gender, or race. It doesn’t recognise restrictions or constraints.

It gives us strength and keeps us moving. It makes us feel alive.

For two brothers George and Shota Mikaia growing up in Georgia, freedom was both all around them and elusive.

In the wild landscape of their home country, there were plenty of paths to choose. Creativity

abounded in this resourceful nation, famed for its beautiful scripts and dramatic landscape. Among

the bold mountains and winding rivers, the brothers felt free.

But life in Georgia wasn’t always a life of freedom. For years, the country struggled with wars, with few areas worst hit then the brothers’ home region of Abkhazia in the northwest. To be Georgian was to know struggle and hardship.

Still, the brothers were proud of their heritage. Like their forefathers, they wanted to once again

write their own script. One that allowed them to express themselves through their own values and

those of their country. Creativity. Acceptance. Progress. Freedom.

To forge their own path, they needed the right shoes.

Shoemaking remains a traditional skill in Georgia. No mass production. Just time, dedication, and

skill. The key ingredients for handcrafted quality.

The brothers embraced these traits and added their own. Modern design, forward-thinking energy.

Creativity. Acceptance. Progress. Freedom. Those Georgian values had found their home.

CROSTY. For those that walk their own path.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Growing up in war-torn Georgia wasn’t easy for George Mikaia. But the beautiful landscape, and the country’s rich tradition, inspired him to create.

From an early age he cultivated an interest in fashion and design, especially for sneakers. For someone who was always on the go, they were an essential part of his wardrobe. To be free, you must be moving, and if you’re always moving, you definitely need a good pair of shoes.

Try as he might, he couldn’t find anything that combined the premium quality essential for his active life with designs that expressed his own sense of style. Undeterred, George took it upon himself to find out more about the craft of shoemaking.

To the skill and dedication of local cobblers, he added modern design, focused on energy above all else. He began crafting shoes that would deliver freedom to their owners. A minimalist approach of clean design and premium quality would eventually lead George to his own brand: CROSTY.

ONDA

Our latest collection is Onda, the Italian for waves. Inspired by the forms of the Georgian landscape and brought to life using exquisite materials from Italy, our design is simple, yet bold. It draws strength from the rugged Caucasus mountains. Smooth elegance from the Black Sea’s coast. Tradition from the country, energy from its people. All these are embodied in Onda.

Drawing further on Georgia’s rich cultural heritage, the design includes the unique Georgian script. Inscribed on the side is “Freedom”, coming from the words for “myself” and “lord”, and reminding us that we are masters of our own destiny.