In 2012, Michael Paratore was traveling through India when he bought a pair of shoes from a street vendor in Mumbai. Once he was during the Bay Area, he started wearing the shoes every single day, and also to all types of events. With all of the compliments he received on them, Michael realized the demand for a versatile, comfortable, and unique footwear. He quit his job as a corporate lawyer, booked a visit to India to obtain the craftswomen and craftsmen who made these shoes, and began Mohinders Shoes.
Mohinders Shoes sells handwoven footwear made by artisans in Athani Village, India. Small batches of trainers are passed between home workshops since artisans specialize in different steps from the process, like cutting the leather, measuring stitches, and hand-weaving.
As an environmentally aware company, Mohinders Shoes has taken the time to locate reliable sources of leather. The artisans who result in the shoes purchase water buffalo hides from family-run operations in a local leather market. The leather-tanning facilities use simple methods within their backyards and every step is done manually.
The final product is a slip-on with a padded insole and complex weaving. The shoes are sold between $145 and $185 and could be purchased online or at several boutique stores located through the US. Michael's company grew fast over the past two years, however when he needed financing to grow his inventory to satisfy demand, he couldn't find funding from the traditional bank. So he found PCV, and we're excited to be working with them!
