Ahmed Raza is co-founder of Naraam, a Nj-area startup that’s making one of a kind shoes in Pakistan and selling these to a western market. Ahmed is paying sustainable wages and creating jobs as part of his native Pakistan with this venture, and he’s hoping the organization he’s launched using a Kickstarter campaign would be the next Toms.
“They add such a pop of color, they just they’ve created you happy.”
Ahmed is discussing these shoes being created by his new company Naraam, a NJ-area startup being run – yes – out of a garage. It’s a business committed to making shoes, and doing good.
Just like another well-known shoe company:
“My inspiration can be Toms,” said Ahmed.
But his initial inspiration originated from home.
“In 2012, I been visiting my hometown in Pakistan, Karachi, and i also came across these beautiful colored sandals from our market,” he admits that.
he brought a few of the shoes back to NJ, had his girlfriend wear them and also this happened:
“Everywhere she went she received a lot of compliments about the shoes.”
These shoes are handmade in Pakistan. They’re traditionally called “Khussas.”
Ahmed’ friends all wanted a pair – but there was clearly an issue with simply importing them. The artisans making the sneakers only made A few dollars a day, hardly enough to meet their basic needs, a lot less support a family group.
“The effort they put behind these footwear is just significant. They were definitely very underpaid for his or her crafts and skills and that we wanted to change that.” Ahmed said.
So in February this year, he launched a Kickstarter campaign for Naraam.
he reached his 10 thousand dollar initial goal in under 30 hours, and raised 62 thousand dollars in all.
Those funds would go to paying Naraam artisans above market value for their intricate work. Also…
“We are doing profit sharing using them, and we are also supplying 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 for your foot. Also, Naraam adds extra padding for comfort.
Soon you could be seeing these colorful Black flats everywhere:
And Ahmed believes bringing these eastern shoes into western fashion will make the world a brighter location for everyone.
“I think it brings two cultures together. It gets people together like that.”
For more details about Black flats go to our resource: read more
