My lightbulb moment: Shoe designer Aruna Seth, reveals the inspiration behind her fashion brand 

Fashion designer Aruna Seth, 38, founded her eponymous shoe label in 2009. She lives in London with her fiance, Thomas.

Growing up, I was surrounded by shoes. My father runs Ascot, which makes affordable, practical pairs. I went to trade fairs, helped out at the office during school holidays and came up with my own ideas.

My first design, aged seven, was a pair of lilac heels with a butterfly on — I was obsessed with the book The Secret Garden. My father jokingly told me to leave him alone when I showed him, but then said: ‘Very nice’, and got them made.

I always knew I wanted to make shoes, but I had to try working in the City so I didn’t have any regrets. I studied business at Liverpool University, then got a job at investment bank Morgan Stanley.

I was living with my parents and I’d buy a new pair of shoes most weeks. I spent hundreds on Jimmy Choos and Louboutins. But I’d kick them off at dinner, in agony. I couldn’t find a comfy pair with ‘wow’ factor. One day, I looked under my desk and saw 15 pairs. This was my lightbulb moment.

I thought: ‘What’s the point of having shoes you can only look at?’ A good pair make you feel like you can take over the world.

I took a part-time shoe design course at the London College of Fashion, and the butterfly symbol kept coming up again and again, connoting elegance and freedom.

I lined the shoes with soft nappa leather, which is usually only used on the outside to keep costs down, and placed the padding on the sole in a certain way to activate pressure points on the foot, like acupuncture. This created the comfort I craved.

I got the trademark and located factories while still in my Morgan Stanley job. I finally quit in 2010, and launched a collection of 40 luxe yet comfortable designs finished with the Swarovski crystal farfalla (‘butterfly’ in Italian) symbol.

A turning point came the following year, when Pippa Middleton wore a pair of my shoes to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding reception. I screamed when the Palace contacted us. Our sales rocketed by 50 per cent. Since then, our shoes have been worn by Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.

Last year, we opened a showroom in Sloane Street, London, in addition to selling through Harrods. We also do trainers and boots for women and children now.

I’m designing shoes for my own white wedding, too. It’s an Indian ceremony, so I want a pop of colour. There will be something blue, with a pair of butterfly heels and crystal wedges. My seven-year-old self would not be surprised!