Hi !
It was around this time in 2015 that I made what many would consider a questionable decision for a 40-year-old man with two children. I quit my job to launch a new shoe brand. And not just any shoe brand, but one that would focus on more environmentally friendly manufacturing—which many weren't. Phew... not much, right? At the same time, my wife and I had decided to leave Boulder, CO (USA) and move our family back to our native France. We wanted our daughters to experience life in our home country. When I look back on it sometimes, I often ask myself, "WHAT THE HELL WAS POSSESSED US TO DO THAT?!"
I never thought it would be easy, but I never imagined it would be this hard. This isn't meant to be a sad story, but I just don't want to sugarcoat the truth either. If we had chosen to make regular shoes, just like everyone else, no problem. We would have started production two years ago, and I would have a lot less gray hair. But pushing for changes, insisting on recycled materials, led to a lot of closed doors, constant starting from scratch, sleepless nights, and emergency trips to the other side of the world.
But every time I considered throwing in the towel, I remembered the big dream I'd had for SAOLA from the very beginning: to make a difference. I had to do more to help protect our planet, for the well-being of my daughters. Working with 1% for the Planet to select the environmental projects we'll support was the boost I needed to overcome the frustrations of production. And when Debbie Sherman, founder of Save the Turtles, told me how she single-handedly saved turtles from poachers on the beaches of Costa Rica, it humbly reminded me of the courage it takes to stand up for what you know is right.
And here we are today! I know we will continue to face challenges, but I also know we can overcome them. The support and positive responses we've received over the past two years tell me we're on the right track. Thank you to everyone who's supported us along the way—our family, friends, Kickstarter community, and the SAOLA team who helped bring this dream to life.
Onward and ever higher!
-Guillaume Linossier, Founder, SAOLA
