Prittle Prattle News in conversation with Shraddha Joshi, Founder of Sole Weavers
Sole Weavers is a, Make in India, Footwear brand based out of Mumbai. Established by Shraddha
Joshi, Entrepreneur and Footwear Designer from FDDI, Mumbai, Sole Weavers officially launched
its e-store at https://www.soleweavers24.com/ in March 2022. The company envisions bringing
back the culture of handcrafted shoes for the modern, style-conscious, astute Indian who doesn’t
settle for less but is constantly looking for a pair of shoes that is The Best From The Rest
when it comes to style, comfort, and price. Sole Weavers is a Handcrafted Luxury for you. Weavers are not just making shoes; it is weaving dreams. A shoe on your wishlist can now be
on your feet. We promise to deliver only the best quality shoes handcrafted by expert artisans.
The comfort of our shoes will keep your feet light and have you dancing from day to night.
Could you describe more about the range of products/ services you offer? What is unique about your business?
Sole Weavers is handcrafted women’s shoes that are both stylish and comfortable. Our product portfolio included flats, heels, Kolhapur’s, boots, and bridal footwear, to name a few. We have our portfolio on our e-shop.
We do customized footwear; more than 50% of our revenue comes from Made-To-Order shoes. Sole Weaver shoes are vegan, using all sustainable, animal-friendly, or cruelty-free raw materials. As a responsible brand, Sole Weaver promotes local artisans and the handcrafted shoe-making process in India.
Evolution in the past few years in the industry
India is the second-highest producer of footwear in the world, making it one of also spurs in the footwear industry products. The growth in the Indian fashion and lifestyle market has also spurred the footwear industry. It has developed as a fashion and style category from an essential need-based industry.
Currently, a significant part of India’s fashion market is digitally influenced. Due to the increasing demand, the e-commerce model has penetrated the footwear industry. This has allowed many enterprises and premium footwear brands to tap into the market quickly.
Business-to-Customer Success Factors
At Sole Weavers, we offer an extensive portfolio of products. We also provide the best customization consultation and services to give our customers the right fit, size, color, and design they choose. Our shoes are made in India, handcrafted to the finest quality with an eye for detail, and the raw materials are locally sourced, vegan, and sustainable. We have a customer-friendly return policy. Every product comes with three months of free repair services if required.
How did the company raise funding, or are you looking forward to the same? We are a bootstrap company—no plans for going public or raising external financing or investments.
Why did you choose this industry over any other space?
The footwear industry has increased, with new lifestyles and cultural milieus worldwide. Footwear is no longer seen as a need but as a fashion statement people adopt.
The global footwear market is expected to grow by 12.83 percent y-o-y by 2028; the sector in India is projected to increase eightfold by 2030. India’s non-leather footwear industry will soon cross the $6 billion mark by 2024.
Further, due to an increase in disposable income, demand for footwear for different occasions further leads to the surfacing of new product segments in footwear in terms of price, performance, and aesthetics. This, in turn, is fuelling growth in individual categories and verticals like customized footwear, slippers, sandals, or shoes. (86 percent of footwear consumption has become non-leather by volume globally, and India is witnessing a similar trend).
Customized footwear segment or shoe customization consider for the high-income group and treated as a luxury. We are trying clear this misconception by providing it at a very affordable rate. Check more at https://www.instagram.com/sole_weavers/.
Do you like participating in CSR initiatives, and what motivates you?
We have not invested in a formalized CSR project yet. At a reasonable scale, Sole Weavers sample shoes go out to mall cleaners and workers free of cost from time to time.
Could you elaborate on the challenges you encountered while establishing and retaining? Challenges have been many, but t main ones were fund availability, gaining the trust of our vendors, and labor retention. We also faced issues arising from a lack of accounting rules and practices followed by RM suppliers. Competition is immense, and as a new brand, winning our client’s trust has been our priority.
Inspiring quote for aspiring youth.
“Have the courage to follow your own path on your own terms. Even if you tumble occasionally, knowing how to pick yourself up again is important. The journey will be long. Make it memorable and learn from it”, advises Shraddha Joshi, Founder of Sole Weavers.
About Shraddha Joshi, Founder, Sole Weavers:
Shraddha, an Entrepreneur and Footwear Designer from FDDI, Mumbai, independently started Sole Weavers in March 2022. Her journey with Sole Weavers has been very refreshing and demanding. In her spare time, she enjoys Trekking & Traveling. Shraddha takes a keen interest in caring for stray dogs.
“Things that look pretty may not be comfortable and vice-versa. This is an age-old problem that we at Sole Weavers are trying to resolve for our customers, giving them the right fit for the design they love,” say’s Shraddha Joshi. She adds, “Creating value through customization is our forte. We have successfully made shoes for those unable to find the right size or fit or even with foot problems. We have designed shoes for size 43 EUR for a customer with swollen feet who has never worn shoes other than Black closed shoes, a few situations we helped resolve.”
