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 as part of 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’ve created you happy.”
Ahmed is talking about the sneakers being created 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.
Just like another well-known shoe company:
“My inspiration is also Toms,” said Ahmed.
But his initial inspiration came from home.
“In 2012, I were visiting my hometown in Pakistan, Karachi, and that i discovered these beautiful colored sandals from our market,” he says.
he brought a number of the shoes to NJ, had his girlfriend use them and also this happened:
“Everywhere she went she received plenty of compliments around the shoes.”
The sneakers are handmade in Pakistan. They’re traditionally called “Khussas.”
Ahmed’ friends all wanted moobs – but there is a problem with simply importing them. The artisans making the shoes only made Three or four dollars each day, hardly enough to satisfy their basic needs, much less support a family group.
“The effort they place behind these shoes is simply 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 within just 30 hours, and raised 62 thousand dollars in all.
Those funds visits paying Naraam artisans above market price for intricate work. Also…
“We are going to do profit sharing with them, and we’re also supplying them medical benefits,” explained Ahmed.
Naraam footwear is also fun.
No two pairs are alike, and there’s no right or left.
Instead, the leather conforms in 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. I think it gets people together that way.”
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