Sandra Hagelstam (born 1987 in Sipoo [1] ) is a Finnish Swedish language-speaking blogger, influencer, fashion designer, [2] [3] and entrepreneur living in London and Helsinki. Her family are owners of Fazer Group. [4]
In the early 2010s, during her studies at London College of Fashion, Hagelstam rose to some prominence as a popular fashion blogger in the UK. [5] [6] [7] [8] Her website goes under the name 5 inch and up, referring to her height and high-heeled shoes. At the peak of its popularity, the blog had half a million monthly readers. [9]
Hagelstam's work in fashion design includes commissions from brands such as Nelly.com and River Island. [1]
In early 2020, Hagelstam shut down her blog, subsequently relaunching her site as an online store specializing in designer shoes. [10] [11] She asserts that high-heeled shoes are a niche currently underserved by media and online communities, in contrast to e.g. the online culture surrounding sneakers marketed to men. [9]
In addition to her work in the fashion industry, Hagelstam has appeared in Verta, hikeä ja T-Paito (2020, Finnish for 'Blood, sweat and T-shirts') [12] a Finnish documentary series produced by Yle, which discusses ethical issues prevalent in the clothing industry. In 2019, Hagelstam made her acting debut in the British film After Louise. [13] [14]