Hi, I'm Guli, the founder of Jungle Shoes, my zero-waste shoe company. Thank you so much for visiting my Crowdfunder!

THE JUNGLE SHOES STORY

I come from a long line of shoemakers in Darfur. We use materials and designs that come from and work perfectly in the desert, and embody the traditional Sudanese philosophy of “Mut Khalli (موت خلي)”; the idea that the shoes would be worn by their owner until they left the world.

Taking steps towards a life free from conflict, I myself had to leave my world, Darfur; and make the arduous journey through the Sahara Desert, Libya, Italy and France. I sought refuge in the notorious Calais Jungle for 8 months. The Jungle inspired me creatively- the lack of abundant resources reminded me of my semi-arid home, and I wanted to show those around me that with just a little imagination, we could make useful things from the resources available.

During an Art in the Jungle initiative promoted by European organisations, I used my shoemaking knowledge to craft long-lasting and comfortable sandals by upcycling car tyres found strewn about the camp, which is built on a former landfill. My project gained traction, as it was the Jungle's only shoe company- I was selling and gifting the Jungle Shoes to friends, newcomers and volunteers!

Me (left) at my workbench in the Calais Jungle

One of my friends, a volunteer in the Jungle, paid me €40 for one of my first creations. This helped me understand that my designs had value!

Jungle Shoes are a symbol, representing the resilience and creativity that endures, even through the trials faced by displaced people who sought shelter in the Jungle. 

Each step taken in a pair of Jungle Shoes represents a step towards a different world; whether that is expanding access to freedom and opportunity for all, or facing up to the consequences of unchecked waste and climate change, and contending with our carbon footprints.

LAUNCHING JUNGLE SHOES

I finally made it to the UK in 2016, and got to work on my business!

I participated in TERN's incubators throughout 2020, and have since designed, prototyped and tested several different products for men and women. 

I launched the Jungle Shoes website, jungleshoes.uk, and Instagram, @jungleshoes.uk.

When restrictions lift, I plan to offer Maker Workshops, so I can teach others to make their own sandals and accessories from car tyres, and how to repair their Jungle Shoes. I hope this will enable others to reassess and reuse the resources available to them, and will grow a community of people who seek to make cool things out of waste.

And while all this momentum was building around Jungle Shoes, I also became a dad! :)

The Jungle Shoes: Slash Your Footprint brand was so fun to create!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

My vision is to provide my fellow Londoners with the best of Sudanese handmade quality, alongside a chance to slash their footprint and look after our planet. 

My MVP designs are made-to-order with hand tools. I want to be able to brand my shoes, get an easy, clean finish every time, and make shoes a bit faster. That is why I am crowdfunding- to acquire better tools, and be able to brand my products and packaging.

Jungle Shoes Needs:

1. Branding Iron: So that every shoe has a Jungle Shoes logo! £218

2. Sustainable packaging: We don't believe in wasteful disposable packaging- we want to fulfil orders via reusable, useful cotton drawstring bags. To keep the prices affordable, we need to order in bulk, which will cost us £187. 

3. Inner Tube rubber! We made the prototypes from inner tubes donated by farms. Now we need a critical mass, which will cost £150 to get to my studio in London.

4. Professional Cutting Tools! It takes a long time to hand-cut to the high standards we have to offer our customers. A belt sander and a better workbench will allow two craftsmen to work at the same time, with sharper results- but it will cost £150.

I'll need to raise at least £705 total, but will use every pound we raise to refine my product, build my business, and hire other refugee makers to work with me.

To reach my goals, I am offering amazing REWARDS to supporters who are able to stretch their contributions!

• If you generously donate £35 or more, you will get 1 pair of custom-made Jungle Shoes, handcrafted to your measurements, and mailed straight to your door!
• If you generously donate £20 or more, you will receive 1 wallet accessory made from the same car tyres as the Jungle Shoes!

Any level of support is graciously appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about Jungle Shoes, and for your consideration and generosity!

Please share my Crowdfunder with your friends and networks :) 

Please follow me on Instagram and check out my website, jungleshoes.uk.

Join Our Jungle Shoes story, and slash your footprint!