It was the sharp style of the locals that left a lasting impression. Their shoes were elegant and structured, made with clear attention to quality and detail; this simple observation sparked a bigger question: why was such craftsmanship not common in Kenya?

The pair soon uncovered that inflated prices caused by too many middlemen had made premium footwear inaccessible to many. Determined to change this, they travelled back to Istanbul and partnered with the Eylül family, respected shoemakers known for generations of skill and tradition. Together, they created a line of high-quality shoes made for the Kenyan market, sold directly online to avoid unnecessary costs. Augustine Dundos is one of the founders of The Foremen and says he went through a lot of difficulty before finding the right people to partner with.

“True to their word, the shoes they made me were very good quality. It was like nothing I had ever seen. I remember ringing the first batch and it sold out almost overnight, and that’s how my relationship with them (the Eylül family),” Dundos said.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--