soleRebel
Rolling on Tires
What do you get when you put together a small environmentally friendly Ethiopian business, a trendy-looking product, and a huge international retailer together? In the case of the company soleRebels, you get a hit!
SoleRebels founder Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu came up with the idea for her company out of a desire to make a shoe based on the flip flops made of old tires that had been worn by Ethiopians for decades, she explains to the Guardian. But instead of focusing on the local market, Alemu had her sights on the international market.
She used the internet to contact retailers and eventually companies like Urban Outfitters and Amazon.com started selling soleRebels. Her company now employs 45 workers and they can produce up to 500 pairs of shoes in a day. Sales are growling steadily, and Alemu has plans to expand: Her sales goal for 2010 is £300,000 ($479,760).
The company's progress signifies more than just a desire to for commercial success; it's a way for Ethiopians to help each other. "In Ethiopia we have become used to taking money from the west, to always getting help," said Alemu. "That does not make for a sustainable economy. We need to solve our own problems."
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