Ahmed Raza is co-founder of Naraam, a Nj-area startup that’s making unique shoes in Pakistan and selling them to a western market. Ahmed is paying sustainable wages and creating jobs in the native Pakistan with this venture, and he’s hoping the business he’s launched with a Kickstarter campaign would be the next Toms.
“They add this kind of pop of color, that they just they make you content.”
Ahmed is talking about the shoes being created by his new company Naraam, a NJ-area startup being run – yes – away from a garage. It’s an organization committed to making shoes, and doing good.
The same as another well-known shoe company:
“My inspiration is also Toms,” said Ahmed.
But his initial inspiration came from home.
“In 2012, I happened to be visiting my hometown in Pakistan, Karachi, and i also came across these beautiful colored sandals in the local market,” he says.
he brought a few of the shoes to NJ, had his girlfriend put them on and this happened:
“Everywhere she went she received tons of compliments on the shoes.”
The sneakers are handmade in Pakistan. They’re traditionally referred to as “Khussas.”
Ahmed’ friends all wanted a pair – but there was an issue with simply importing them. The artisans making these shoes only made 3 or 4 dollars a day, hardly enough to satisfy their basic needs, much less support a household.
“The effort they place behind these footwear is merely significant. They were definitely very underpaid for crafts and skills so we wished to change that.” Ahmed said.
So in February this season, he launched a Kickstarter campaign for Naraam.
he reached his 10 thousand dollar initial goal in under 30 hours, 62 thousand dollars in all.
Those funds would go to paying Naraam artisans above market price for their intricate work. Also…
“We are doing profit sharing using them, and we’re also providing them medical benefits,” explained Ahmed.
Naraam footwear is also fun.
No two pairs are alike, and there’s no right of left.
Instead, the leather conforms in your foot. Also, Naraam adds extra padding for comfort.
Soon you could be seeing these colorful peep toe flats everywhere:
And Ahmed believes bringing these eastern shoes into western fashion is likely to make the entire world a brighter spot for everyone.
“I think it brings two cultures together. It gets people together like that.”
For more info about peep toe flats go the best site: check here