Veldskoen Shoes is a South African shoe brand and company headquartered in Cape Town.
History
Veldskoen Shoes was founded in 2016 by friends Nick Dreyer and Ross Zondagh. After watching the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,[1] Brazil, it is believed that the pair held the viewpoint that the South African athletes had an opportunity to express their national heritage more profoundly through their attire at the opening ceremony. The two started envisioning the kind of outfits that could have more aptly embodied the essence of South Africa. While discussing options, Ross Zondagh proposed the idea of incorporating a pair of leather Veldskoen, citing their iconic status as South African shoes. However, Dreyer expressed scepticism, noting that Veldskoen was no longer considered fashionable. Their conversation delved into strategies for enhancing the shoe's appeal, infusing it with a sense of fashion-forwardness, and fostering a sense of unity among South Africans. The end product was in the form of brightly coloured soles and laces representing South Africa's flag and rainbow nation; which is Veldskoen Shoes trademark look.[2] The company chose the name 'Veldskoen' to honor a distinct style of shoe deeply rooted in South African tradition. In English, the name translates to 'field shoe,' reflecting its practical design and outdoor heritage. Their design is based on the traditional Khoisan footwear.
Overseas markets
Veldskoen Shoes exports products to 32 countries. This includes the US, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, the Nordic countries, Canada, the entire Europe, and parts of Africa.[3] [4]
All Veldskoen Shoes raw materials are sourced locally, from South African businesses. From the leather to the thread and the thermoplastic rubber (TPR) components. Indirectly Veldskoen Shoes supports close to 100 people across the different factories and tanneries in South Africa. In 2019, businessman Mark Cuban[5] and celebrity Ashton Kutcher acquired a 50% ownership stake in Veldskoen Shoes US business.[6] [4]
Awards
2021 Veldskoen Shoes (Pty) Ltd was the winner in the small enterprises category at the South African AGOA Exporter of the Year Awards.[14][15]
External links
References
- Timothy Rangongo. Making an iconic South African shoe globally recognisable News24^
- Alec Hogg. Nick Dreyer: Making SA's iconic Veldskoen into a global champion July 16, 2019^
- Veldskoene are hitting the US as SA brands go global