First came the name, then the brand.
It all started at the end of the summer of 2019, when Miguel and I had both quit our jobs and were brainstorming about problems we faced. A lot was discussed but we were sure about one thing: traveling solves (almost) everything.
When we began to explore what could be better while traveling, the million-dollar question came up: what is the best souvenir?
That was the moment the word Shoevenir popped into my head. We didn’t know what to do with it yet, but our shared love for sneakers eventually led to the creation of the Shoevenir: sneakers inspired by places.
Each Shoevenir began with a local artist creating an illustration which embodied a place. That illustration was then printed on the Shoevenir’s cork insoles, while also serving as the inspiration for the colorway of the shoe. Having Portugal as a starting point, we first created Shoevenir Porto, Lisboa, Açores, Madeira and Algarve.
Our biggest challenge was not only to design something that fulfills the purpose of reviving memories, but that also looks great and comfortable on your feet. Little did we know about a bigger challenge ahead of us, the lack of social responsibility in the fashion industry. We felt like we also had to be part of the change, so we took a position against the common wasteful practices of the industry.
Today we are still creating shoes inspired by places, having recently extended our catalog to sandals.
Come with us in this journey, and maybe even suggest our next stop.
Gonçalo
