NIGERIAN YOUNG FEMALE COBBLER MAKING WAVES IN THE SHOE-INDUSTRY!

shoes made in Nigeria

Traditionally, men rule the startup world. Particularly when it comes to technology and Handcraft startups. However, an increasing number of women entrepreneurs are driving business innovation in the emerging markets.

While there are still gender challenges, women in the emerging markets are overcoming obstacles to break through the glass ceiling.

One of the women doing this today is Nkiru Emodi, a female entrepreneur who is currently making waves in an industry will see which in the "eyes" of many people an abnormal trade for her gender.

Rather than wait for the government, a rich husband or a "Sugar-Daddy" to improve her life, Nkiru ventured into the Bespoke Shoemaking business about 2 years ago with very little capital and today, she is doing very well and a name to compete with in the shoemaking industry.

When we say Bespoke shoes, we mean shoes made especially for a certain customer who orders based on specifications. The customer's feet are measured and a shoe last for each foot is created. At the fitting, the customer tries the prototype pair of shoes made in an inexpensive leather and the shoemaker checks if anything needs to be changed. If so, the changes are applied to the lasts and the shoes are created with precious leather and handed over to the customer as a complete product.

Nkiru does all this from her home and has personally hand-crafted over 1,500 pairs of footwear ranging from designer shoes for both men and women, loafers, sandals, boots, moccasins, ankle cuff sandals for women, unisex leather belts etc. and it worthy to note that these shoes when spotted on display, one would think they were made outside the country or imported from Europe because of their outstanding finishing and quality designs.

Nkiri is the CEO of H.O.T Wears also known as (Home Of Theresa) Wears and currently has staff under her payroll.

Her company has participated in numerous expository programmes nationally one of which is the 2nd Lagos Shoe Expo held at the Silverbird Galleria in May last year and she has won awards for her outstanding products like the Nigerian Footwear Industry Awards in 2015.

Nkiru Emodi is a graduate of UNIBEN and hails from Onitsha in Anambra State.

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WHAT WE SAY:

With the current recession which our country is currently facing and the calls to revive the ailing Naira, entrepreneurs like Nkiru Emodi should be encouraged by patronizing her products.

Rather than buying imported shoes from foreign stores and shoe makers at exorbitant prices, it would be best if we patronize our local manufacturers to boost the economy and also become an exporting country.

Imagine the effect on our GDP if countries buy our own locally made products from us?

World Class shoe making designers like Susan Bennis, Berluti, Jimmy Choo etc all started like Nkiru Emodi and it was the patronage they enjoyed locally that shot them to limelite.

Stop shuttling London, Paris and Dubai to get what is readily available here rather, let London, New York, Pari and Dubai all come to us.

The time to change our stance and mentality is NOW!

Grow the naira! Buy #MadeInNigeria

Nkiru Emodi can be reached via the various channels :
08168362226 (also used for whatsapp) and 08153946915.
Instagram : @hotwears
Twitter: @hotfootwears
Email: hotfootwears@gmail.com
Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/HOT-Foot-Wears-782710265171150/about/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=page_info


SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/AnambraOnline/