Swaheelies: a shoe with a purpose

Swaheelies is a name that everyone should be in the know about. This project was started by two women, Chania and Caitlin both obsessed with Kenyan flip flops and African Print Flats. Caitlin currently lives in New York, USA and Chania in Nairobi, Kenya. Both women who struck a wonderful friendship years ago while both working in New York and share a passion for designing footwear and share the same mantra: life is made that much sweeter when you’re wearing Swaheelies.

More importantly, Chania and Caitlin wanted to start a social enterprise that empower Kenyan artisans and enable them to grow, as the business grows. The duo embarked on this mission by identifying Kenyan artisans who were gifted in shoe making, and as fate had it, they found this detailed workmanship and skills needed for their products from artisans who were most in need of employment. Nairobi is a flourishing city, with growing tourism and industry. It represents the Kenyan culture in so many beautiful ways. Yet within this growth, there is still a large population in need.  Swaheelies’s artisans give the pair their outmost dedication and share their passion for what they are trying to achieve. Empowering and employing talented artisan’s to make quality, hand crafted, one of a kind shoes, that showcase the beauty and culture of Kenya. Swaheelies ensure that their artisans receive above market rate payment for their services and goods.

Swaheelies® intrinsic commitment is to enable less fortunate children, the access to high quality education. Swaheelies® has committed that with every shoe that is sold, will contribute to support the education for a child’s annual school fees. Our target is to sell 500 pairs of shoes by year-end, and with that educate 28 children for the whole academic year starting in January, 2015. By year end in 2015, our target is to have sold 2,000 pairs of shoes, and with that educate 223 children for the whole academic year. Each year we hope to double our sponsorship and still maintain sponsorship for the children who are already enrolled in the sponsorship.  It is important to us, to not only pay for one year sponsorship, but to take the children up to the last year of high school. And in addition, ensure continual mentorship and communication with our kids.

Avery Parker 

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