Aaron Firestein(28) loved to draw designs on converse and other kinds of shoes. He would take out some sharpies and draw designs on shoes and sell them to his friends. After he graduated he took his sharpie collection and went to Argentina to learn spanish. While there, he met Raaja Nemani, a man who graduated as an economics major. They met while volunteering at a children’s home in Argentina. Firestein sold Nemani a pair of his custom designed shoes, a pair of hand-drawn shoes that would be the beginning of an amazing business. One year later in the city of Chicago they officially started “Bucketfeet.”
Bucketfeet is a business that sells shoes with designs made by street artists from all around the world. Each artist is payed $250 for their design and receives a royalty of $1 for each pair sold. The business helps artists to showcase their art to the world and to allow them to keep doing what they love. One artists from Brazil said “It is amazing to think that my artwork is being worn around the world. There are over 50 people in Japan wearing my design right now.”
Bucketfeet’s philosophy is that art is expression and that everyone deserves to express themselves in their own way. They believe art breaks cultural barriers, brings people together, and that it tells a story. The company shares the stories of their artists and encourage their consumers to find an artist that that they can connect with. People can express themselves through the designs created by the artists. Firestein and Nemani also donate a portion of their profits to children’s shelters around the world because children have always been important to them and because that was were there both met.
What started as a small college business has become something global because of Firestein’s love for art and culture. The business he started really expresses the idea that art is for everyone. He and Nemani have empowered artist everywhere to show the world what they can do. The business started in 2011 and in the year 2013 sales totaled about $1 million. The business is growing immensely now that they are being sold in Nordstrom stores across the United States.
I think that its awesome how Firestein searches for outside artists to design shoes rather than him just designing them all himself. The shoes are beneficial to the artist who makes a small commission but it also provides a cool story for the company to share with the customers.
I knew a few people in my high school who also drew designs on converse, who know someone could make such a profitable business out of it! it’s amazing seeing someone take an idea they have and just running with it.
I think the story behind how these guys met and started their business is unique. Also, for them to be donating a portion of the profits to shelters, and helping using the designs of street artists adds to the uniqueness of their business venture.
I love how this product involves many different street artists and features their art all over the world. What a great way to integrate that part of culture in the retail world. This is a great example of making an exciting and innovative product while giving back to local people.
The setup of paying the artists is really interesting and enables them to continue to produce their art.