SOLE SEARCHING

By: Soroya A. Pottinger

One of my favorite aunts once told me that a real lady always wears sweet smelling perfume, carries a designer purse, and struts in quality shoes. Now, I'm not Carrie Bradshaw of HBO's "Sex And The City," so I don't have a closet full of $1,000 Monolo Blahnik's, but like most women, I know that the right pair of shoes can make the outfit. I love wearing fashionable shoes, but finding a pair that is also comfortable can often be a challenge. How many times have you gone out with your friends, and realized that even though you looked fabulous, you couldn't make it back to the dance floor to jam to your favorite song, because your feet were screaming louder than the crowd? I've been there! Most of my twenty-something friends have replaced wearing fashionable stilettos with sneakers, flip flops and even orthopedic looking shoes. The fear of one day having to undergo foot surgery to remove painful calluses, corns and bunions has forced them into an early stage of frumpiness.

Fortunately, the answer to these footwear dilemmas has arrived. Samanta Joseph, a twenty-six year old Guyana native and New York City resident, has started Samanta Shoes with the support of her family, husband Kelvin Joseph, CPA, and business development director, Ilyas Akbar, CPA. Her shoes, credited for their quality, comfort and style are made in Brazil and sell for $80-$200. Each unique style ranges from sporty to sophisticated, and are named after some of her loyal customers such as Lisa, Star and Nicole. They say "seeing is believing," but in this case "wearing is believing." Even R&B superstar Melba Moore is a fan and spokesperson.

I sat down in my new favorite pair of sandals, the Samanta Stacy, to recount my conversation with this passionate entrepreneur who's well on her way to being one of the industry's top shoe designers.

Do you have any formal training in designing?
No, I actually went to school for computer information systems. Designing shoes has been a long time love of mine since I was a child. Many women in the minority market have flat feet, and most shoe designers are men who cater to the majority market who have deep insteps. I use Kid Suede to prevent feet from sliding out of the shoes in the front. The way a shoe is designed can also cause pain in the pressure points of your feet, so I wanted to create shoes that would be stylish,
comfortable and affordable for all women.

How often do you introduce a new shoe?
I do it every season. You can wear most of my shoes all year, but I am always designing new styles.

Will you be designing anything other than women's shoes?
Yes, I am currently designing handbags and belts. I will beintroducing the bags very soon.

How will your company grow over the next five years?
It is national right now, so I would love it to go international. I will continue keeping my customer base happy, and I also want to open a showroom where customers will feel at home. I want to be able to give them extra special attention.

What would you tell aspiring entrepreneurs?
Live your dreams. Dedicate at least an hour a day towards it, because it is a rewarding experience and you can definitely make a difference. Also, give back to your community on your way up.

Check www.samantashoes.com to see Samanta's designs and to learn about her shoe parties and other events. Be a trendsetter, and always step out in style and comfort. The next time you’re at the club, they just might be playing your song.