Fashion-Forward Latina Women Helps Single Mothers In Colombia With These Shoes

Remember when Toms came out and for every pair that you bought the company would donate another to kids in Africa?
Remember how good that felt, knowing you could do good by looking good, the only problem with Toms is that they didn’t really look great and went out of style pretty quick, but now a Colombian born entrepreneur is treading a similar path, only that this time her shoes are actually making a fashion statement.

Meet Laura Viveros the creator of Soles For Change, a company where artisans from Santander, Colombia, make stunning looking shoes made from raw sustainable materials, with every purchase of these beautifully designed shoes you are actually helping the people from this area of the South American country and you are supporting the up and coming artist who have mastered these ancient designs that look amazing on everyone.

“Soles for Change is a brand that started in February of 2016; it’s a product of a trip we took to Colombia during Christmas of 2015. We were always trying to find a way to help Colombia, and we were just walking on the street and saw a woman who was selling the shoes that we sell today. We asked her about them, and she said that she and a few other women made and sold them and that their company was close by. We decided that if we could show their product to the world we would help these women by providing a stable income and we would be offering consumers a shoe that is comfortable, trendy, and handmade.” said Viveros in an interview with Latina.com

When the interviewer pointed out how Viveros’ work has improved the lives of many women, especially single mothers from the area, Laura told us how excited the change has made her about the project. It’s just fascinating because—I mean I have a mom and a dad, but I have never experienced anything even close to that and forgive my language, but I think that they’re just badass. To see how they work and collect money for their kids and take care of them by themselves… I believe that it’s amazing. For us, it fills our hearts with joy to be able to do that. Now, it just feels like our responsibility to keep growing, to keep our product relevant, and to show the world that we want to continue to help them, along with more people.

Article inspired by Latina.com // How One Latina Is Helping Single Mothers in Colombia, One Sole at a Time