12/29/2024
From Struggle to Style: The VERAGANO Story Continues
Ever loved a pair of shoes, but your feet didnât? đ
I squeezed into these pretty ballet flats, even though they were way too narrow. The struggle for comfort AND style was realâ and I knew I couldnât be the only one.
Thatâs when I realized something had to change, not just for me, but for all the women facing the same problem. And thatâs how VERAGANO was born! đ
The Struggle with Sore Feet
In the early days of VERAGANO, I designed mid-heel pumps that I proudly wore to business meetings and special occasions. Made in Italy and Spain, they were the perfect mix of comfort and eleganceâ just what I dreamed for the brand. But then⌠BAM! The second wave of COVID-19 hit, and everything came to a screeching halt. Suppliers I worked with, shut down one by one, leaving my plans for my next designâ wide-fitting, pointy-toe ballet flatsâ on hold.
While I waited for factories to reopen, life marched on. I went back to teaching in Hawaii as a special education teacher. My days were busy, active, and my beloved VERAGANO mid-heels just didnât cut it for work. So, I turned to flats from favorite brands. They looked cuteâbut ouch!ânone of them fit my feet. The brands I tried didnât offer the widths I needed. Width ranges stopped at B or EE, but I needed EEE or even EEEE! đľâđŤ
So, what did I do? I compromised. I squeezed into those narrow flats, enduring the daily discomfort just to look stylish. By the end of the day, my poor toes would be screaming! đ The only relief came when I swapped them out for slippers stashed in my office or car. Frustrating? Yes. But I knew I wasnât the only one.
A Turning Point
One particularly long, painful day, as I swapped footwear for the umpteenth time, I thought: enough is enough. Restarting VERAGANO wasnât just something I wanted to doâ it became something I had to do. I knew I had to create a brand that could finally solve this problem, combining comfort and style seamlessly.
But⌠it wasnât easy. Finding a factory that was willing to work with a startup brand wasnât a walk in the park. After three different manufacturers, I finally found a partner in Spain who shared my vision of quality and innovation. The process was slow, and it cost a lot of energy and resources. Every stepâsamples, design tweaks, and prep for the relaunchâhad to be done while juggling my teaching schedule, family responsibilities and enjoying Hawaii.
But through it all, I held onto one thing: every step forward, no matter how challenging, was worth it.
So, tell meâwhatâs your shoe struggle? Drop a comment and letâs start solving this together! đĽżđŹ
Want to stay in the loop and help shape the next collection (especially our flats!)? đ Join our VERAGANO VIP list on WhatsApp (https://wa.me/message/JT4AKWDP7PJTH1) for exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and even a chance to influence colorways and styles that match YOUR vibe.
Itâs not just about shoesâ itâs about building a brand that YOU want to support!
Xoxo,
Rima
