learning.
I couldn’t really get it, at first. Tying Ssekos, that is.
Chalk it up to clumsiness and a notable lack of patience, but my ties were never up to anyone’s standards. I usually gave up after one sandal. Versus the two you’d need to actually walk around.
It definitely gave Ben and Liz something to laugh about (ok, more like at) this summer, since I was sitting next to tie gurus Allie and Baylee most days. They were coming up with creative new ties faster than they could think what to name them. I could barely get Ssekos to stay on my feet.
That was June. Fast forward to the beginning of September, and there is literally no way someone like me could be left behind on the tie train. 30 Days/30 Ways has kicked something pretty awesome into high gear.
Allie’s how-to videos were barely up in July before they were being matched by new ones from the Sseko community—and with 30 Ways, even more of those videos are all over YouTube and Vimeo. Sseko’s Facebook wall is now chock full of photos of new ties, classic ties, and Ssekos all over the world.
You might not have even known it was a contest from all that gleeful sharing of new ideas, how-tos, and personal stories. It was more like the thousands-strong Sseko community getting to know each other even better. Women are sharing stories from Colorado to Norway to Dallas. You might have seen a girl halfway across the globe trying your tie one day. You might have learned that a Sseko fan in Thailand had thought of the perfect tie for the wedding you’ll be going to in Atlanta.
And then we all learned that the girls who made these sandals in Uganda just graduated from school, and will be going on to college to pursue their studies.
This is what happens when you mix a little creative, a lot of good cause, and one really great sandal: the strength of a community that’s eager to share ideas and learn from each other. The more the merrier, sure. But the more voices, the stronger, too. It’s pretty exciting stuff for the future of Sseko and its employees and fans.
As for me?
At the end of the summer, I came up with a new tie.
It’s inspired by the community behind Sseko Designs, and what that community can do when it comes together. You’ll get to see it next month. And we’re looking forward to seeing what happens when everyone tries it out.
-Éva
Éva Pelczer worked in Social Enterprise Development with Sseko this summer. She’s currently a freelance writer living in Portland, OR.
About the Author
Liz Forkin Bohannon is the founder of Sseko Designs. She is passionate about social justice and believes that the empowerment of women is a fundamental piece of working towards a more just and peaceful world.