Four sisters, who grew up running their mother’s shoe factory in Colombia, have revitalized it into a Nordstrom loved brand, Kaanas.
Kaanas produces high quality and socially responsible products in playful, feminine designs with classic silhouettes. The shoes have bold prints and quality craftsmanship, defining their collections and setting them apart from other footwear labels. Each style is also designed by hand through a network of artisans in South America, Central America and Africa. The family collaborates with these artisans to develop unique designs and gives back to these communities by providing jobs and ensuring fair compensation. Kaanas is available for purchase online and in stores with major retail partners like Nordstrom, Shopbop, Revolve, Anthropologie, Everything But Water, ASOS and 500+ specialty boutiques nationwide.
Adriana, Natalia, Liliana and Juliana Acevedo now run Kaanas alongside their parents. Liliana and Natalia share why they decided to revitalize their mother’s shoe factory.
Yola Robert: What made you decide to continue with the shoe making business vs. dabbling into another industry?
Robert: Where does the name Kaanas come from?
Acevedo Sisters: The “kanaas” is the weave used by the Wayuu tribe, a centuries old matriarchal society from the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia. Legend has it that a spider taught the women their signature weave, which they use to create textiles and support their families. Coming from a female dominated and entrepreneurial family that has been working with and supporting multiple generations of local artisans, the name seemed fitting.
Robert: What were the most important things about entrepreneurship that your parents taught you?
Robert: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs who want to continue the legacy of their family’s business?
Robert: What can we expect from KAANAS in 2019?
Acevedo Sisters: In 2019 we are definitely pushing our B2C (business to consumer) channel. Wholesale is a great distribution channel to gain volume and momentum, but in the end our customer relationships are key. We plan on investing more on the growth of our e-commerce and developing a closer relationship with our customers. We would like to learn more about what they think, what product categories they like best, comments in regards to our fit, etc.
Robert: Now knowing everything you know, what advice would you give your 21-year-old selves?
Acevedo Sisters: Trust the path, don’t rush it. Trust your decisions. Just be passionate along the way and face big dreams with determination. I’ve always read this quote to myself when I’m about to mark a rough or scary decision; “Courage: To dive into uncertainty and have faith in your ability to fall… Gently, Naturally, into your own place in the world.” I would continue to repeat this to my 21 year-old self.
Robert: What is one failure you have been able to turn into a success?
Acevedo Sisters: Our first six months at Kaanas were definitely difficult and far from a success. I remember reaching out to so many stores and no one would reply to my emails. We had stocked up on close to 2,000 units of merchandise in preparation for the Spring season, with no confirmed orders to back them up. We sold 36 pairs of shoes within the first six months. We had visions of having to donate all of the extra pairs if we weren’t able to sell them after two years. We kept reaching out to accounts until finally one day we finally connected with Calypso St. Barth. They absolutely loved the line and became our first major retailer.
Source: Forbeswomen.com
