Ahmed Raza is co-founder of Naraam, a Nj-area startup that’s making original shoes in Pakistan and selling these to a western market. Ahmed is paying sustainable wages and creating jobs in his native Pakistan with this particular venture, and he’s hoping the business he’s launched with a Kickstarter campaign could be the next Toms.
“They add this kind of pop of color, that they just they create you content.”
Ahmed is discussing the shoes being created by his new company Naraam, a NJ-area startup being run – yes – out of a garage. It’s an organization committed to making shoes, and doing good.
Much like another well-known shoe company:
“My inspiration can be Toms,” said Ahmed.
But his initial inspiration came from home.
“In 2012, I been visiting my hometown in Pakistan, Karachi, and I discovered these beautiful colored sandals from your market,” he admits that.
he brought a number of the shoes back to NJ, had his girlfriend put them on which happened:
“Everywhere she went she received tons of compliments about the shoes.”
The sneakers are handmade in Pakistan. They’re traditionally called “Khussas.”
Ahmed’ friends all wanted a pair – but there is a problem with simply importing them. The artisans making these shoes only made 3 or 4 dollars each day, hardly enough to satisfy their basic needs, a lot less support a family group.
“The effort they put behind these shoes is merely significant. They were definitely very underpaid for their crafts and skills so we desired 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 within just 30 hours, 62 thousand dollars in every.
Those funds goes to paying Naraam artisans above rate for intricate work. Also…
“We do profit sharing with them, and we are also providing them medical benefits,” explained Ahmed.
Naraam shoes are also fun.
No two pairs are alike, and there’s no right of left.
Instead, the leather conforms for your foot. Also, Naraam adds extra padding for comfort.
Soon you could be seeing these colorful Pointed toe flats everywhere:
And Ahmed believes bringing these eastern shoes into western fashion is likely to make the entire world a brighter place for everyone.
“I think it brings two cultures together. It gets people together this way.”
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