Startup Story
Daniela Samakosky is the founder of Walk The Talk Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. Following in the family footsteps of a long line of Italian shoemakers, the idea of upcycled fabric shoes, slides and slippers was born in 2016. A lifetime of reverence for nature coupled with sustainable living underpins the values that drive the vision of creating a brand that creatively transforms fabric books and remnants into beautiful ‘one of a kind’ slippers and shoes.
LoA chatted to founder Daniela Samakosky this month to learn more about this sustainable business that epitomizes the ethos of upcycling.
What does your company do?
Walk The Talk Africa is a small artisan footwear manufacturer based in Cape Town, South Africa. Our shoes and slippers are handcrafted from locally sourced, high-end, super quality fabric remnants, offcuts and fabric books. We are proud to be part of the slow fashion industry, favouring quality over quantity, handmade by locals over mass made imports. Committed to sustainability in the broadest sense, we thrive on the vision of generating employment in a country that is rich in traditional skills but suffers high unemployment. For the love of Africa, we offer a unique product and strive to grow our fledgling brand into one that can make a difference in the lives of those who join us along the way. Our growing clientele frequently comment on how beautifully made their shoes are and how comfortable the fit is. We are slowly venturing into custom made shoes for those with special needs.
“We are proud to be part of the slow fashion industry, favouring quality over quantity, handmade by locals over mass made imports.”
What inspired you to start your company?
My grandfather was the shoemaker in a small village in northern Italy in the 1920s. He passed this skill onto my father who then emigrated to South Africa bringing this traditional skill with him. Memories of handmade wooden lasts and the warm smell of leather lay dormant for 5 decades. Recognizing the growing demand for handmade shoes, the desire to revive our family tradition ignited the idea. Coupled with my lifelong ideals of sustainable living and the abundance of offcuts led to the concept of upcycled fabric shoes. While still employed, I developed the idea and worked on upskilling myself in pattern making and shoe making. I took the leap of faith in 2018 and while the entrepreneurship journey has been very challenging, I don't look back.
What makes your business, service or product special?
Personal service and attention.
Developing relationships with our clients.
Pride and care in the manufacturing process.
Made with longevity in mind.
Mindfulness around sustainability and diverting landfill.
Unique one off's and small production runs.
Upskilling and generating employment.
ITS ALL ABOUT LOCAL FOR THE LOVE OF AFRICA AND SUSTAINABILITY.
For detailed info, listen to podcast with Leekei Tang from Better Business Founder. https://mindful-business-founder.simplecast.com/episodes/handcrafting-slippers-for-the-love-of-africa-and-nature-with-walk-the-talk-africa
Tell us a little about your team
The gentleman who makes my shoes is 62. Highly skilled, he started making shoes at the age of 12. He was retrenched following the closing of many shoemaking factories that once thrived in Cape Town. Along the way he struggled to support his family while doing small odd jobs along the way. Synchronicity brought us together and so a mutually beneficial relationship started. He works from his home which relieves high costs of local transport and saves countless hours in travel. He is delightfully "old school" in his attention to detail and care with which he handcrafts Walk the Talk Africa slippers and shoes. He outsources the sewing to a seamstress who lives in his community. Following the devastating effects of Covid in the growth of my business, I am unable to offer full-time employment to him and a seamstress yet. With the markets now opening up, the future is looking optimistic. It is my mission to grow steadily so that I can generate full-time employment. Once I have a sound income record I will be on the lookout for support programs to help with this.
“Committed to sustainability in the broadest sense, we thrive on the vision of generating employment in a country that is rich in traditional skills but suffers high unemployment.“
“For the love of Africa, we offer a unique product and strive to grow our fledgling brand into one that can make a difference in the lives of those who join us along the way.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Entrepreneurship runs in my veins. My father had to pivot his skills once the preference for mass-made shoes hit the market in the 1970s. His once thriving small business fell apart. He turned to upholstery and successfully built another business. From Italian Shoemaker he became Italian Trimmers. His tenacity and perseverance permeated life and forms the backbone of my sense of knowing what it takes to be an entrepreneur. It is often a lonely journey, often very challenging, but builds strength of character. The highs and lows become a part of daily life and begin to feel "comfortable". I approach each day with renewed vigour, placing yesterday into experience and today as opportunity. SHOW UP EVERYDAY. Small steps eventually lead to a leap.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
To grow a LOVE BRAND. This is a brand based on authenticity, sustainability, love local, support local, grow local, entrepreneurship and artisanal upliftment. The brand vision is one of synergy, reviving traditional skill, pride in the process, beautiful quality products. I believe that the abundance of creative talent in our splendid land, South Africa, can and should drive employment opportunities. Creative businesses in which people can grow and thrive while uplifting our economy. A win-win view as part of the solution to unemployment and poverty.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Thriving against the odds. Personal growth.
Living the dream.
Creating.
Being available for my family, being flexible.
Self driven and discipline.
Striving to be part of a solution to unemployment.
Making a difference
The joy of transforming "waste" into product that is exquisite and high quality.
Living sustainably
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Do it.
Show up.
Network.
Be bold in the sense of telling your story....take pride in your abilities whatever they are. Intelligence is made up of many different aspects not only intellectual. Some are extraordinarily gifted emotionally...others practically. Take pride in your natural abilities and develop new skills . Use time efficiently and make time for personal care! Dare to leap.
Contact or follow Walk The Talk Africa
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL daniela@walkthetalkafrica.com
Why LoA loves it…
There is a growing movement around the world for consumers to know who made their shoes. They are interested to know that their shoe purchases are sustainable, that they created jobs, that they contributed to protecting the environment by utilizing such techniques as upcycling. This growing interest bodes well for businesses like Daniela Samakosky, founder of Walk The Talk Africa. With her family heritage rooted in the world of artisan shoemaking, she is taking all her skills, knowledge, aesthetic appreciation and sustainable approach and building a niche handcrafted ethical shoe business that is hitting the right note at the right time. This is a great small business that is set to grow over the coming years, watch this space! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa