Phunkee Footwear wants to go to The Shambles, York

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the world of Phunkee Footwear, where every step you take is a statement of boldness and creativity. Founded by the visionary Sarah Carrino, Phunkee Footwear is not just a brand; it’s a movement that celebrates individuality and self-expression through uniquely designed shoes.

Why Phunkee Footwear?

Unmatched Designs: At Phunkee Footwear, we believe that shoes are more than just an accessory—they are an extension of your personality. Our collection features eye-catching, bold designs that ensure you stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re looking for vibrant colors, intricate patterns, or avant-garde styles, Phunkee Footwear has something that speaks to your unique taste.

Quality and Comfort: While our designs are daring, we never compromise on quality and comfort. Each pair is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using premium materials that provide durability and comfort for all-day wear.

Meet Sarah Carrino

Sarah Carrino, the creative force behind Phunkee Footwear, has always been passionate about fashion and design. With a background in fashion design and a keen eye for trends, Sarah has transformed her vision into a brand that empowers individuals to express themselves freely and confidently. Her dedication to innovation and excellence is evident in every pair of Phunkee shoes.

Why We Need Your Support

We are on a mission to revolutionize the footwear industry, but we can't do it alone. Your support on this crowdfunding platform will help us;

- Attend the Market stall at The Shambles Market, York.

- Expand our design team to bring even more innovative and exciting designs to life.

- Increase our production capacity to meet growing demand without compromising on quality.

- Enhance our marketing efforts to reach a broader audience and inspire more people to embrace their unique style.

Join the Phunkee Movement

By backing Phunkee Footwear, you are not just purchasing a pair of shoes; you are joining a community of like-minded individuals who value creativity, individuality, and quality. Together, we can make the world a more colorful and expressive place, one step at a time.

Thank you for your support, and welcome to the Phunkee family!

Warm regards,

Sarah Carrino

Founder, Phunkee Footwear

ADHD and Me by Sarah Carrino

Sarah Carrino, at the age of 40, faced a significant turning point in her life when she was diagnosed with ADHD. The journey to her diagnosis was fraught with challenges, including a lengthy waiting period of three and a half years. This delay in diagnosis meant that Sarah had to navigate much of her adult life without understanding the root cause of her struggles.

Sarah decided to seek a private diagnosis as the wait time on the NHS was lengthy, and at 40 years old she felt she had waited long enough for an explanation of the struggles she faced. 

In school, Sarah struggled to fit in. Coming from a mixed heritage background, Sarah struggled with making and keeping friends and also with her school work. 

Sarah was seen as a disruptive child who lacked focus and concentration. It was during first school, Sarah received a dyslexia diagnosis and additional support was provided. 

Sarah was capable but lacked in concentration. She excelled in certain subjects and topics but failed miserably at others. 

This spectrum was often described as Sarah is ‘playing up’ again. Sarah isn’t putting effort into her studies. Sarah needs to concentrate more. 

At home, Sarah was a happy, albeit, a hyperactive child, but always felt inferior to her younger sibling, who was naturally gifted in schooling and was constantly ahead of Sarah despite being 2 years younger. 

This was so upsetting for Sarah. Her dad and sister called her ‘Remi’ then laughed when she didn’t know what it meant. It wasn’t till years later that she learned that ‘remi’ was short for Remedial. 

During a particularly upsetting period of time in Year 4. The class was given the opportunity to start writing in pen. An honour only bestowed onto those whose writing was neat. 

No matter how hard Sarah tried, writing did not come naturally. She was the only one in class who was not allowed to write in pen. A situation that lasted 2 years up until year 6. 

Another time when ‘drawing clocks’ Sarah was the first in class be be able to tell the time. It came so naturally and as if she had always automatically known how to do it. 

Reading and writing were Sarah’s toughest topics. She just couldn’t grasp the language. Sarah was still on infant reading books up to the age of around 8 years old and her handwriting was that of a junior. 

This disparity in excellence is some topics and utter failure is others caused the teachers to believe Sarah was ‘doing it on purpose’ as she was clearly capable. 

It was the mid to late 80’s when Sarah attended First School. Those were different times back then and Sarah wasn’t flagged as having additional needs as far as ADHD went. 

Had Sarah had received an ADHD diagnosis back then it maybe could have been transformative and allowed Sarah to excel earlier in life. 

Once school was over Sarah really has no idea which path to take. She was encouraged into Hairdressing by her mum and aunt as continuing with schooling and 6th form was not an option. 

Sarah was creative so agreed to take up hairdressing. Sadly Sarah’s mum passed away during her second and final year of college and she subsequently dropped out having never achieved the qualification. 

Sarah then went into the world of work. Having taken jobs as an admin worker, health care assistant and bar staff. 

None of these were Sarah’s dream job but she did well and made friends easily. But lack of concentration reared it head again and Sarah would often be in trouble for not paying attention. Also Sarah was a problem solver and often had ideas on how this could be better or improved. This often led Sarah to become discouraged in her work and often left after only short periods. 

Next Sarah found her true calling. Caring for her Grandma and Nana. Both these women had a huge impact on Sarah and they understood her and her needs. Gran would often read with Sarah and teach her maths, English and geography as well as cooking and baking. Nana was a motherly figure to Sarah and cared for her just as much as Sarah cared for her. 

Sarah’s days were spent with both grandparents and Sarah finally felt like she fit it. Both theses women were Sarah’s biggest support and championed her to believe she could achieve anything she set her mind to. 

After the loss of both grandparents Sarah decided to try her hand at Estate Agency. Sarah was 30 at this point and had settled down into life. 

Sarah excelled in Estate agency and very quickly received promotion after promotion. This role played to her strengths and she was really good at it. The career culminated in a role of Head of Estate Agency in the London based company Doorsteps.co.uk for Akshay Ruparellia. Sarah loved her time in London but was increasingly getting homesick for Bradford. Which was home. 

Sarah return to Yorkshire when her father took ill and she met her partner and subsequently married for the second time. 

Once again Sarah was lost professionally. She felt like she had reached the heights of her career in London and didn’t really know where to turn next. 

She took several jobs in estate agency but none filled her with the joy she had previously felt. She struggled with concentration and sticking to the rules. These roles often ended quickly either by choice or by being let go. 

Sarah also turned her hand as starting some businesses. These were all really basic attempts but taught Sarah a lot about the world of business and self employment. None were successful but Sarah felt she had gained more than she lost in these early attempts. 

In October 2023 Sarah’s second marriage broke down and she moved, alone, to Doncaster with her dogs Libby & Riley. 

The first few months were the hardest and Sarah felt she was once again lost and struggling. She turned to Drugs for comfort and was ‘self medicating’ as she had done earlier in life after her mum passed away. 

She was in a rut and had the worst end to the year spending Christmas and New Year alone for the first time ever. 

She was lost, lonely and afraid. She knew she was capable of turning her life around and spent January free of drugs and started to look after herself again. 

Sarah's determination led her to seek help. Upon receiving her diagnosis, she began medication, which proved to be transformative. The medication helped her manage her symptoms more effectively, allowing her to focus and organize her thoughts better.

With her newfound clarity and energy, Sarah channeled her efforts into entrepreneurship. She successfully founded her own company, Phunkee Footwear, in Spring of 2024. Her business has already flourished, showcasing her ability to overcome the challenges posed by ADHD and achieve success. 

Sarah has also found a love of writing, a task that she has never been able to do not least enjoy. Sarah writes now for pleasure and enjoyment as well as finding, getting her thoughts down on paper, really cathartic.

Sarah's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the positive impact that proper diagnosis and treatment can have on individuals with ADHD.

Sarah continues to do well with her business and focuses all her attention on striving to be a happier, healthier version of herself.