Ahmed Raza is co-founder of Naraam, a Nj-area startup that’s making original shoes in Pakistan and selling them to a western market. Ahmed is paying sustainable wages and creating jobs in the native Pakistan with this particular venture, and he’s hoping the organization he’s launched having a Kickstarter campaign will be the next Toms.
“They add this kind of pop of color, they just they’ve created you happy.”
Ahmed is referring to the sneakers being produced by his new company Naraam, a NJ-area startup being run – yes – away from a garage. It’s a business focused on 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 been visiting my hometown in Pakistan, Karachi, and I found these beautiful colored sandals from our market,” he states.
he brought a few of the shoes returning to NJ, had his girlfriend use them and also this happened:
“Everywhere she went she received tons of compliments on the shoes.”
These shoes are handmade in Pakistan. They’re traditionally referred to as “Khussas.”
Ahmed’ friends all wanted a pair – but there is an issue with simply importing them. The artisans making the sneakers only made Three or four dollars each day, hardly enough to meet their basic needs, much less support a family group.
“The effort they put behind these shoes is simply significant. These folks were definitely very underpaid for crafts and skills so we wanted 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 less than 30 hours, 62 thousand dollars in most.
Those funds goes to paying Naraam artisans above rate for intricate work. Also…
“We do profit sharing together, and we’re also giving 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 to your foot. Also, Naraam adds extra padding for comfort.
Soon you could be seeing these colorful Leather flats everywhere:
And Ahmed believes bringing these eastern shoes into western fashion is likely to make the planet a brighter place for everyone.
“I think it brings two cultures together. It gets people together this way.”
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