I have known Laura Viveros for as long as I can remember, our older brothers are very close fiends. We grew up in Colombia and have always considered ourselves to be lucky. But this is not a story about our friendship it is a story about an amazing project.
This is a business that wants to help single moms from Santander, Colombia. I am talking about, Soles for Change, a business for your feet and a home for your soul.
In Colombia
Soles for Change was created a few years back. But, as all great stories this one also has a begining. When Laura was only seventeen years old she received a golf scholarship and left the country to study abroad. At that point instead of travelling through Colombia she travelled the world. Time, studies, marriage and work established this magnificent woman in Miami and then in New York.
Soles For Change has its heart in Santander, Colombia. Santander is a department of Colombia. It is located in the central northern part of the country, borders the east with the Magdalena River, borders to the south and southeast with Boyacá, to the northeast with Norte de Santander Department, to the north with Cesar Department, and to the west with Bolivar and Antioquia Departments. Its capital is the city of Bucaramanga.
With so many things and details I sunk my self in an amazing conversation with a life long friend who is helping single moms in Colombia change their present and create a better future for their families.
How the story began
Laura Viveros, told me that she has always felt that very fortunate in life. She has a great family, a job, food and health. For that and more she always wanted to help others.
Giving money is very easy but working to create something sustainable for someone else is not.
However, she was in a constant look out for a more sustainable way to help others. It made her feel good to provide gifts for the children in need at christmas, or participating in building homes for habitat for humanity or giving money to charities but those activities are a one time gift nothing sustainable and durable for the people in need who received it. In 2015 she made a christmas trip to Bucaramanga, Colombia.
At that moment, they visited some other small towns in Santander. One of those towns was Curiti.
According to her, it has been one of the most amazing places she have ever seen. The people, the scenery, the food, all perfect. Her family greeted the locals who were very proud of what they did and showed us all their handmade products.
She and her business associates knew right then and there they had to show the world their handwork with fique and other artisanal materials. After her brother, Juan Camilo Viveros, and his wife Carolina Gutierrez, her husband, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, and herself saw their products they decided to create Soles For Change!
Laura Viera A: Why create a business to help others?
Laura Viveros, co – founder Soles for Change: Because as a family, we felt that we have been very lucky and blessed in our lives. I consider it important to help those who are not in the same situation as me. However, I was never fully convinced to donate or collaborate sporadically with a cause.
The popular espadrilles are colorful and made of fique. This, as I learned, it is a biodegradable and durable natural fiber that grows in the leaves of the fique tree.
Not only are they earth friendly, but they stimulate the sole of the foot and naturally improves blood circulation by activating the nervous system of the body.
Currently the passion project benefits Colombian artisans, including single mothers. As Laura looks towards the future, she hopes to expand to help single mothers al over the world. It may seem like a huge task to take on, but thankfully “Soles For Change” is inspiring people globally.
Laura Viera A: What is the story behind the name?
Laura Viveros, co – founder Soles for Change: While we walked around the streets in Curití in Santander, the shoes I was wearing started hurting my feet and I couldn’t take it anymore. When I came out of the church I found an artisan that was selling fique shoes. I bought them on the spot and found them extremely comfortable.
When Soles for Change was created it became clear they had to go out of Colombia in order to give them the representation they deserved and to show the world what Colombian artisans can do.
They asked the lady who made them and she told them that it was a group of single mothers (around 75 women). That sparked something in their family.
Soon enough, they realized that the way to help was to create a business with this shoes in mind. So, the fist thing they needed was to find a name that represented the business but also the social aspect of it. After a lot of trial and error we came up with Soles for Change – Suelas para el Cambio.
Making a dream come true
Until now, the hardest part has been to make the company grow and to find time to do it.
They have had great success in the United States and although they have several clients around the world like Singapore, Sweden, Spain, Australia, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica creating a business is hard.
Laura Viera A: What has been the easiest part until now?
Laura Viveros, co – founder Soles for Change: The easiest has been the support of the artisans. That is the most important aspect for me, that they want us to help them.
They still believe there is a lot to be done. They created this company in order to help others and the four founding members have full time jobs so its hard to dedicate all the time needed to Soles for Change.
I was extremely concerned when Laura told me that they don’t believe that in Colombia artisans are valued as they should be. The work they do is wonderful and they stem out of tradition. Unfortuntately colombians don not value this. That’s the reason why
After hearing her talk I realized my next question.
Laura Viera A: As Colombians what do we lack in regards to our craftsman?
Laura Viveros, co – founder Soles for Change: I am glad you asked this. We need to collaborate much more. People tend to think that since it is Colombian it has less value. We must value what is ours.
They have accomplished things. Busineswise, they have cracked the market in North America, Austrailia, Singapore and Cost Rica, just to name a few. Nevertheless this is a venture with a social core so there are many things that can be done.
That being said, Viveros assures me that it is crucial to consolidate and have a larger amount of sales in the USA.
It is also necessary that people understand two basic things. Firstly, that this shoes are all hand made by mothers. Secondly, that they are also made with natural fibres meaning that they are good for the environment!
They are looking to expand and help single mothers all over the world. They have had thousands of emails from people just like us who want to make a difference in their countries and want to make a program similar to ours.
Their purpose is to help others but they need to consolidate their brand better. The idea is to finish establishing our brand in the international markets and start selling not only online but also in departments stores and eventually having our own Soles For Change store.
Laura Viera A: Do you consider that Santander is special, that it has something different to offer?
Laura Viveros, co – founder Soles for Change: Santander, like any region in Colombia has a lot to offer. Especially regarding tourism. It is special for me because after having gone I felt that I know the world and I do not know my own country.
They are comfortable and colorful shoes made from sustaibnable materials.
The process of making this hand made espardillas is an ellaborate one. It takes about four days for the fabric to be ready. After the cloth is done, it takes approximately two hours per pair. The dike is frayed, combed, painted and woven.
Laura Viera A: How do you help artisans?
Laura Viveros, co – founder Soles for Change: We buy your shoes 15% more than they would sell it to any other distributor. We also fulfill dreams. A year ago we took them to their first trip out of Curiti, we went to Boyaca to the hot springs and for the most part it was their first vacation. We also support their children in education issues. We are currently trying to take them to sea.
Our truth
During our conversation Laura was emphatic that many things are unknown about Colombian artisans.
Wether it’s the people from Santander or not, she believes that any job deserves respect. The craftsmen bring wisdom and they pass it on from generation to generation. This is something we shouldn’t lose or forget. It should be supported, cherished and given the recognition it deserves.
Soles for Change is an inmense opportunity to show the world what colombian craftsman can do. Colors, passion, perfection, high quality and love for our traditions and our roots.
If we want to make change, change has to start with each one of us. The Viveros family has already begun and they are taking the world one shoe at a time. Now it’s up to all Colombians and people around the world to truly see our country and to understand our traditions and the passion that drives us.
