Empowering Women from the Ground Up: A Conversation with Ana Kraft, Founder of Xena Workwear

Make48 is proud to shine a spotlight on Xena Workwear, a company that’s not just making safety footwear, but also making a powerful statement. Born from a real need and fueled by a vision of empowering women, Xena Workwear provides innovative, stylish, and comfortable safety shoes that allow women to step into any role with confidence.

This commitment to empowerment is demonstrated through their community involvement. At a recent Women in STEM event, Xena gave every team member a pair of shoes (Instagram). One Make48 participant raved about her experience: “These shoes were amazing over the weekend! Even though I had zero days of breaking them in, they fit like a glove!”

We sat down with Ana Kraft, the founder and CEO of Xena Workwear, to hear her story. Born in Kazakhstan and raised in Germany, Ana's journey led her to the United States as a project engineer in the manufacturing world. Her unique background and personal experience became the driving force behind Xena Workwear’s mission. 

Ana Kraft, CEO and Founder of Xena Workwear

Ana Kraft: From Frustration to Founder

Ana’s “aha!” moment was born out of frustration. As a project engineer, she frequently had to move between professional meetings and the manufacturing floor. Unlike her male colleagues who could wear their steel-toed dress shoes, she had to change out of her office shoes into bulky, ill-fitting work boots. For Ana, the existing options were uncomfortable, unprofessional, and unappealing.

“I started this company out of my own frustration,” Ana explains. “How you present yourself and what you’re wearing has a major impact on your self-confidence. It’s already an uphill battle for women to fit into certain industries, and a lack of confidence caused by awful workwear is an unnecessary barrier. Professional women deserve to feel their best when they’re on the job.”

Ana realized she wasn’t alone. “Every woman I talked to in industrial or STEM fields had similar frustrations: workwear wasn’t made for us. That’s when I knew we had to create something new, not just shrink men’s products and make them pink, but start from scratch,” 

After extensive research and development, Ana launched Xena Workwear’s first steel-toe model, the Gravity safety shoe, in May 2019. This shoe boasted a feminine design without compromising on safety or functionality.  

Beyond Safety: Designing for Confidence and Belonging 

For Xena Workwear, safety and durability are the baseline. The real mission is empowerment. As Ana explains, “We exist to help women feel confident, respected, and seen in environments where they’ve historically been overlooked– whether that’s on a factory floor, in a lab, or at a construction site.”

These stories are the heart of the business for Ana. She highlights the partnership with Harley-Davidson University's Iron Angels program as particularly special. “Seeing young women working hands-on on a motorcycle with confidence, and doing it in gear that didn’t make them feel out of place, was deeply inspiring.”

Ultimately, Xena Workwear believes that what you wear to work shouldn’t hold you back– it should propel you forward. It’s about more than just a pair of shoes; it’s about giving women the confidence to step into any role.

“One story that still makes me smile came from a woman who emailed us after receiving her first pair of Xenas,” Ana remarked. “She had just gotten promoted to lead a team in a manufacturing plant, and she wrote that, for the first time, she felt like her outfit finally matched her capabilities. It was the first time she didn’t have to choose between looking professional and staying safe. Messages like that remind us that this isn’t just about boots, it’s about belonging.”

Make48 participants with their own pair of Xena Workwear shoes at the Women in STEM competiiton

The Future of Functional Fashion

Looking ahead, Xena Workwear is focused on continuous innovation, building every piece with women’s real needs, bodies, and work environments in mind. The company is actively exploring new and sustainable materials to design more comfortable and responsible products. “I envision a future where women in STEM and the trades can walk into any workplace and find gear that fits them well, reflects their personal style, and evolves with their needs,” Ana says.

In essence, Xena Workwear is engineering badass safety work boots for women. They are certified, non-slip, light, and comfortable, proving that safety shoes can indeed look good. It’s a powerful statement that’s even printed on their shoes: “strong AND beautiful ... just like you.”

Ana’s vision is clear: “When women are empowered to show up as their full selves, the whole industry gets stronger.”

Step into any role with confidence. Learn more about Xena Workwear and shop all products at https://xenaworkwear.com/

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