Best known for her powerful memoir Know My Name (opens in new tab) - which she wrote in the wake of the highly publicized trial of Brock Turner, who sexually assaulted her in 2016 - Chanel Miller is known for her illustrations, fun travel selfies and one-on-ones with acclaimed authors. Now, the writer and artist has teamed up with Rykä, a sneaker brand for women, to expand her work into the field of fashion.

Rykä (opens in new tab), founded in 1987 by sexual assault survivor Shelley Poe, was the first brand to make athletic shoes specifically designed for women's feet (rather than simply sizing down men's shoes, which had been the norm). The company prides itself on in-depth research into the unique shape and muscle composition of women's feet.

Leica has continued to advocate for women's needs, claiming that women "deserve better shoes, better rights, and a better world." And now, in a campaign with Miller, it is donating $25,000 of the proceeds to Futures Without Violence's Courage Museum, a platform to end gender-based violence.

The designs are accented with Miller's original illustrations (her art has received rave reviews and was recently featured at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco) and her favorite color, "cherry pink." True to Miller's reputation for courage, the inside of the shoe reads "Love is where courage is born." It is a powerful mantra that has single-handedly inspired a change in California law and inspired countless sexual assault survivors to open up about their experiences.

In anticipation of Miller and Leica's "Courage Shoe" (opens in new tab), which will be released on April 5, Marie Claire sat down with Miller to hear her thoughts on courage, women's fashion, and collaboration.

Marie Claire: Tell us more about your collaboration with Leica, in your own words and how it came about.

Chanel Miller: Rykä helped me design this shoe detail by detail and encouraged me to express what I wanted. I wanted the illustrated creatures to be close to the wearer. I wanted them to be accented with my favorite color, cherry blossom pink. They listened to and implemented any suggestions I had. I am grateful to Rykä for putting my voice at the center of the design. Whereas before I would have said, "That's good enough," now I can start a sentence with "I want." I feel like these shoes are really for me and I feel empowered.

MC: In what ways is this collection trying to empower your customers?

CM: When I feel overwhelmed, one of my grounding techniques is to keep both feet firmly on the pavement, and I like that Rykä sneakers act as a foundation for my body. Even if my mind is in chaos, I can feel solid no matter where I am standing. In life, we tend to focus on the big milestones and accomplishments, but I see life as a series of small moments of mediocrity, fun, and sadness. Moving forward, one step at a time, is the only way we can overcome.

MC: What was it like applying your illustration skills to your fashion work? What was the most exciting and most challenging part of the process of designing your collection?

CM: The lion is a symbol of courage. When we think of courage, we think of bluffing and puffing out our chests. My lion is very calm and curious. My lion lives in your shoes and loves to accompany you in your daily work. This lion will be there for you during stressful situations at work. This lion will be proud of you for mustering up the energy to walk around the block to buy eggs. The lion enjoys the breeze with a light jog. The lion appreciates being a part of your daily life, both the bad and the good.

MC: This collaboration is a great example of how fashion can be mobilized to make a difference. What else can the fashion industry do for women?

CM: Leica knew that it was not enough to simply shrink men's athletic shoes and say, "This is good enough." You have to empower people by giving them choices and preferences.

MC: Both you and the Leica team have been very outspoken about women's rights and the prevention of sexual assault. What has it been like to connect under that common goal in this project?

CM: Connecting with strong women is what keeps me here today and keeps me visible and energized. I am often asked about "resilience," and I sometimes think people mistakenly believe that resilience is something you create on your own. Whenever I lose my energy or have difficulty finding my way forward, I turn to the women around me, my mother, my sister, my childhood friends, my editors, my legal team, my therapists. These women take care of me and give me time to replenish. They remind me of who I am and what I have. This work is not about plowing through on my own, but about reminding myself that I have a community around me with whom I share struggles and hardships... Rykä has built a community that celebrates and centers the female experience, so when the opportunity to partner with them presented itself, I fully embraced it.

MC: Tell us a little more about Futures Without Violence and its Museum of Courage.

CM: When I think of a place to discuss gender-based violence and sexual assault, I think of the courtroom, which can feel oppressive and intimidating. At the Courage Museum, these issues are brought to light in a nourishing, comfortable, and beautiful environment. It becomes a shared experience of bearing witness to these topics along with others, the opposite of the isolation survivors feel when they seek help on their own. The very existence of the Courage Museum conveys that these topics are not to be kept secret, but to be borne as a community. We each have a role to play in ending violence.