INNOVATION
Bucketfeet shoes artists
INNOVATION
The shoe brand turning footwear into an art form
BucketFeet has a network of over 40,000 artists globally , who create custom designs for the footwear brand
Bucketfeet shoes artists
BucketFeet has a noble goal : To connect people through art or artsy shoes at least .
Founders Raaja Nemani and Aaron Firestein met as volunteers at a slum outside of Buenos Aires in 2008 . Firestein , a recent graduate from the University of Oregon , was working as a photographer in Argentina . On the side , he would decorate white Converse shoes with his own artwork and sell his wares on Facebook .
Nemani , formerly an investment banker with UBS ( UBS ) and Prarie Capital , was taking time off to travel . Impressed by Firestein ’ s custom kicks , he bought a pair for himself . As he continued on his way through 29 countries , Nemani found his shoes were a conversation starter .
“ They were a great ice breaker ,” recalls Nemani . “ Everywhere I went , people would ask me about them , whether I was in a country in Africa or Southeast Asia . I had this really interesting story to tell because there was an artist behind the shoes and a story behind the art .”
It dawned on him that art on a humble pair of shoes could connect people across continents . So he went back to Firestein and they launched BucketFeet in 2011 . It has since raised more than $ 13 million in funding .
BucketFeet sees itself as a place for artists to sell their work . At any given time , the company sells dozens of custom-designed shoes , usually produced in a small batch , through its website and its own retail stores in Chicago ( where the company is based ) and Washington , DC .
Anyone can submit designs through the website . If they ’ re chosen ( either by Bucketfeet , or in some instances via social media votes ), the artist gets $ 250 upfront and a $ 1 royalty for every pair sold . Each pair retails for between $ 65 and $ 95 . Some 40,000 artists from 120 countries have already contributed designs .
Buckfeet recently opened up the design selection process to the public , with the help of 3D rendering software that makes it easier to visualize what the finished sneaker might look like . The results help indicate what ’ s likely to sell .
BucketFeet now lets customers be part of the selection process for new designs .
“ It ’ s a powerful model that has made us much better at selecting artwork that aligns with what our community wants ,” says Nemani .
The company was supplying Bloomingdale ’ s and Nordstrom , but abandoned that strategy earlier this year . Nemani says there are several advantages to being mainly a web business . Small scale production plus a quick turnaround allows the company to practice what Nemani calls “ responsive commerce .”
“ Since we ’ re literally getting shoes every week , we have the opportunity to release new products every month , which gives are community something to be excited about ,” he says .
LIFE TODAY MAGAZINE Issue 1 , No . 001 / 17 / December 2016 17