Late afternoon light filters through the front windows of Pizzeria Mozza, catching flecks of flour in the air like dust on film. Behind the counter, Nancy Silverton moves with the precision of someone who has spent decades listening to the rhythm of her kitchen—the scrape of dough, the low hum of ovens, the sudden shout of “behind.” It’s this balance of chaos and control that inspired The Nancy, her first-ever footwear collaboration with Snibbs, a Los Angeles-based work shoe brand created by fellow chef and entrepreneur Daniel Shemtob.
On October 17, Snibbs releases The Nancy ($149), a limited-edition clog that bridges Silverton’s refined sense of style with the brand’s signature durability. It’s not just another kitchen shoe—it’s a statement about design, movement, and longevity for anyone who spends their day standing in service of their craft.
“When it came to choosing our first chef collaborator, the first person I thought of who had the most style in the culinary industry was Nancy,” Shemtob told me. “She’s cool, effortless, and authentic. Working with her wasn’t just exciting—it pushed Snibbs to evolve.”
A Collaboration Born from Craft
Silverton’s fingerprints are on every detail of The Nancy. Working closely with Mozza’s Culinary Director Elizabeth Hong and Snibbs Creative Director Brett Golliff (Nike, Adidas, New Balance), she shaped the silhouette, materials, and even the outsole design. The inspiration, fittingly, began with a dish—her handmade pasta.
Golliff translated the relationship between pasta and sauce into the tread: rubber that grips for traction yet releases easily in wet environments. Crafted with full-grain Napa leather and molded rubber toe caps, the clog carries both form and function—a reflection of Silverton’s philosophy that beauty should always serve purpose.
“For me, style in the kitchen and in my wardrobe are inseparable,” Silverton said. “If I don’t feel good in what I’m wearing, I don’t feel good about what I’m cooking. With Snibbs, we created a shoe that brings those worlds together.”
Utility Chic, Reimagined
The Nancy arrives in three colorways that mirror Silverton’s culinary personality:
- Sage, a bold green that nods to her garden-fresh sensibility.
- Porcini, a rustic cream evoking Italian craftsmanship.
Each pair carries Snibbs’ signature non-slip sole, water-resistant construction, and EVA midsole cushioning—designed to withstand double shifts without sacrificing style. “It’s clean, it’s simple, it works,” Silverton said. “And it’s easy to wipe down at the end of the night.”
Daniel Shemtob’s Design Philosophy
Before founding Snibbs in 2020, Daniel Shemtob was living the grind. From bussing tables at Gina’s Pizza in his teens to building The Lime Truck—the cult Los Angeles food truck that became a Great Food Truck Race champion—his career has been defined by grit and reinvention.
“I was tired of ending every shift in pain,” he recalled. “One night I fell hard in the kitchen and thought, this can’t be the norm. I wanted something that worked as hard as I did.”
That moment sparked Snibbs—a company built on collaboration between chefs, entrepreneurs, and orthopedic surgeons. Partnering with Dr. Jason Snibbe (LA Lakers, Clippers) and Haik Zadoyan, Shemtob engineered shoes that merge anatomical precision with design-forward aesthetics.
Today, Snibbs is a staple among industry professionals from kitchens to hospitals. Nearly every pair is made from recycled and plant-based materials, reflecting Shemtob’s belief that design should carry social responsibility as much as comfort. Their Community Giveback Program also provides $500 grants and free footwear to workers facing financial hardship—a quiet, lasting act of solidarity.
The Nancy as a Symbol
More than a clog, The Nancy represents a creative dialogue between two chefs who see no divide between craft and care. It’s about how you move through your day—the glide from prep line to dining room, from heat to rest—and what it means to look and feel good doing it.
“This shoe was a labor of love,” Shemtob said. “It builds on the DNA of our original clog but brings Nancy’s touch—elevated materials, subtle details, and an entirely new attitude.”
Silverton, for her part, views it as an extension of her culinary identity: elegant, disciplined, and practical. “I like that it doesn’t scream for attention,” she said with a smile. “It just belongs.”
From Mozza’s marble counter to the backlines of kitchens across the country, The Nancy is a reminder that workwear can hold elegance, resilience, and story. As Shemtob put it, “You can tell how serious someone is about their craft by how they take care of their tools. Shoes are part of that.”
Grab a Pair for This Holiday Season at snibbs.co
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of The Door
