Every Sandal has a story
   //   email sign-up   //   
cart
shipping & returns info

FAQ’s

 

Why did you choose the name Sseko?

I was riding in a car in Kampala with my dear friends Kristen Vogel and Charles Mugabe. Charles is Ugandan, so I started asking him a series of “How do you say…{insert English word here}” I was thinking of words that I felt characterized my time in Uganda, specifically with the girls. One of the first words I asked about was “Laughter.”  And he replied “Enseko.”I don’t have a baby, but some sometimes I wonder if a mom feels like this when she decides what to name the little cashew in her belly. En-Seko. Just loved the way the “Seko” part sounded.  I immediately went home and started playing around, tinkering with a logo. (I don’t mess around.)  Aesthetics are important to me and I love off-beat-ness, so I added an extra ‘S’ (which is very common in Lugandan) and bam. The baby was born. Hello, Sseko. Welcome to the world.  

Who makes up the founding team?

Well, broadly, the Team Sseko is anyone who has and is currently spreading the Sseko love. That probably means you if you are reading this. If you have ever told your friends about your nifty sandals, thrown an event or hosted a party, you are part of the family! We have interns and staff members and Sseko Ambassadors that all make up our family. Not to mention our friends in Uganda who are making beautiful things and changing lives. Here is a little bit more about the original, founding team…Where it all started… After I started Sseko, some pretty important things happened. When I came home from Uganda, a boy named Benjamin and I started dreaming about what it would look like to really make this work. He asked me to marry him. I said yes. That was easy. Then he started asking me questions that were a lot harder to answer. How are we going to make this work? What is our vision? What are we willing to give, to risk? How do we…what if…can we…??? I needed to be asked these questions. For Sseko to work and to grow, we had to start creating some answers. Ben is really smart. He loves these young women (they call him Uncle Ben) and believes in the power of educating and empowering young women everywhere, but especially in developing economies.  He is dreaming about the way we can use business to change the world. But Ben also likes things that I don’t. Like Excel. And Quickbooks. And things that make me run and hide under the covers. Or fall asleep. That being said, beyond being an incredible dreamer, Ben helps put the numbers together to make this thing tick. He gets really excited about finding new technology and tools to help us succeed. I wake up every morning feeling pretty blessed that I am not only pursuing my passion, but get to do it with my BFF. Yep, I just said BFF. That is us. We are small in number, but mighty in will.

Wait? Are you a charity? Or a business? How much of the profits of each sandal goes to the girls?

Well, well, so glad you asked. Read this carefully, because it is a really important part of who we are and what we do. We are a socially proactive, Not-Just-For-Profit business. This means that we are not a charity and do not operate on a traditional non-profit, donor/fundraising model.  Instead, we have created our business model around these women and their needs. That means, like in a traditional business, we front all the money to pay for the supplies, training programs and their salary which is the money that goes towards their tuition. Because every employee of Sseko Designs earns above a fair wage, they are able to put over 50% of their salary in a fund that goes directly towards their university education. At the end of the program, each girl also has the opportunity to receive a scholarship from Sseko that matches 100% of their savings.That means before we sell the sandals, the women have earned their money for university. We use the profits as capital to reinvest into Sseko for buying our materials, hiring more women, developing our programs, etc. Our goal is that after working for Sseko for nine months they are able to fund their entire first year and a half of university (college is typically three years.) Once the women are in university they have a much easier time finding work and still have the option to work for Sseko for the remaining two years on a part-time basis to earn additional income. We then recruit those women who are in university for more career specific positions within our company (fashion, accounting, management, etc) to continue to build professional skills that will assist them and give them a huge advantage once they graduate.  F or instance, Mercy, who was in the first Sseko class, worked for Sseko for an additional two years in a leadership role in our company. Once the girls have graduated from University (and we are not here yet, but we can’t wait!) we will build our full-time, year-round management team out of those women, and they will be the ones running Sseko and will have options to have ownership opportunities. We here at Sseko are all extremely passionate about using a traditional for-profit business model to build sustainable incomes, job creation, education and professional opportunities. Business and consumerism are arguably the most powerful forces in our world today.  Every dollar you spend is a vote for the way our world will do business and see our “stuff.” We are excited to be a part of a growing movement the uses “patient capital” to combine philanthropy and traditional business models to change the world. Thanks for asking. Tell your friends. Do it too.  

How do the sandals work?

The base of every Sseko Sandal is made the same and has five loops through which you can lace the straps. There are lots of different ways to tie every sandal. Want some ideas? Visit our sandal style gallery. Have some ideas? Upload a picture or video of your favorite way to wear your sandals to our Facebook page and share the love! Now, with every sandal, the straps are interchangeable. That means you buy one pair of soles and an extra strap or nine and bam! You’ve got a sandal for every occasion. We have some colors that we consistently carry but all the patterns are made in limited quantity. When it is gone, it is gone forever. So if you see one you like…act fast!

How can I get involved?

Here at Sseko, it takes people all across the country (and globe!) to help us share the Sseko story. Want to get involved? Here are a few ways to contribute:

  • Consider hosting a Sseko Party. Friends, shoes and empowering women across the globe. Does it get any better? Read more about hosting a party here.
  • Jobs & Internships. Consider becoming a part of Team Sseko. We have opportunities both in Portland, OR and in Uganda. To read about internships and full-time employment opportunities, go here.
  • Tweet, Facebook and Blog! Use your social media presence to help us spread the love. Don’t forget to post a link on our Facebook page so we can see what you’re up to! Have a favorite blogger? Will you tell them about us?
  • Include Sseko at the next fair, conference or event your attending or planning. Interested in hearing the Sseko story first hand from a founder? Invite Liz to speak here.
  • Help us find new retail partners! We work with boutiques all across the country to help sell Ssekos. If you know of a boutique that might be a good fit, please tell us! We’d be more than happy to set you up with some material to take to your favorite store. If you help us get a new account, we’ll throw you a Sseko Party. Sandals on us!

Want more information on getting involved? Fill out this form and let us know who you are and how you’d like to get involved!

How does your sizing work?

Check out our size chart here!

How long will it take for me to get my Ssekos?

Well, ideally, about 5-7 days. If you need them by a certain date, please shoot us a note and we will do our best to get them to you double-quick.

Do you sell internationally?

Yes! We ship Sseko all over the world!

Do you wholesale or sell in retail stores?

Yes! We’d love to meet you, and find out if we are a good fit for one another.  Apply to be a partner here!  If you have any questions you can email Laura Corder at laura.corder@ssekodesigns.com

How do I join your affiliate network?

We would LOVE to have you on the Sseko team! Everything you need to know about becoming a Sseko affiliate can be found here.

Can I return my Ssekos? What is your exchange policy?

Please read about our returns and exchange policy here!    

Where is Sseko based in the United States?

Sseko Headquarters is based in Portland, Oregon. We are known for great coffee, micro brews and Sseko Sandals. Ok, not so much the last one, but maybe some day!