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 his native Pakistan with this particular venture, and he’s hoping the organization he’s launched using a Kickstarter campaign will be the next Toms.
“They add such a pop of color, they just they make you content.”
Ahmed is talking about the shoes being made by his new company Naraam, a NJ-area startup being run – yes – out of 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 originated in home.
“In 2012, I been visiting my hometown in Pakistan, Karachi, and I came across these beautiful colored sandals in the local market,” he states.
he brought some of the shoes returning to NJ, had his girlfriend put them on which happened:
“Everywhere she went she received tons of compliments on the shoes.”
These shoes are handmade in Pakistan. They’re traditionally known as “Khussas.”
Ahmed’ friends all wanted some – but there was a problem with simply importing them. The artisans making the sneakers only made 3 or 4 dollars each day, hardly enough to fulfill their basic needs, much less support a family group.
“The effort installed behind these shoes is just significant. They were definitely very underpaid for crafts and skills and 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 under 30 hours, and raised 62 thousand dollars in most.
That money goes to paying Naraam artisans above market value for his or her intricate work. Also…
“We are doing profit sharing using them, and we’re 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 in 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 that way.”
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