Socially-conscious shoe brand Nisolo is set to stop in Oxford today as part of its two-part Holiday Tour. Nisolo was founded in Oxford by Ole Miss alumnus Patrick Woodyard, CEO of Nisolo, just over two years ago in October of 2011.
Based out of Nashville, the Nisolo shoe brand sells handmade leather shoes and accessories for both men and women. All Nisolo products are created by members and artists of the Trujillo community in Peru. Nisolo means “not alone” in Spanish.
“This company is a social enterprise striving to empower impoverished artisans through job creation by offering a quality-driven, stylish line of handmade leather footwear,” Woodyard said.
Nisolo’s mission is essentially to present a socially conscious brand to a society of consumers while giving the chance for talented people to make a living. Nisolo is set to tour 20 different cities across the U.S. as part of their Holiday Tour.
Woodyard believes his company stands out from the rest of similar shoe ideas, such as TOMs, because Nisolo aims to focus on quality, comfort, price and style while sharing the story of empowerment and change through their brand.
Woodyard and the Nisolo team spent two years working in Peru before they met their four shoemakers: Willan, Juan, Mendez and Roxana.
“A major key to our success is the ability to maintain a quality and transparent brand that consumers can rely on,” Woodyard said.
Junior international studies major and host of the event Murray Miller believes that the growing trend of conscious consumerism amongst college students and young people is what makes Oxford a perfect stop for the Holiday Tour.
“So many people here, students, faculty, fraternities, sororities and other organizations, want Nisolo to do well and want to support the company,” Miller said. “People want their purchases to serve a greater good.”
The Nisolo Oxford open house begins tonight at 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The show is located at 1527 Garfield Avenue in Oxford.
