I’m really excited about today’s post, not only because it’s a great idea for a wedding, but also because it’s an amazing company that promotes responsible consumerism. I had heard about Sseko sandals from my friend (and our fashion contributor), Jessie, and bought my first pair this summer. Needless to say I love them, and a few days later I was contacted by Liz about Sseko’s custom line of wedding sandals, and I jumped at the chance to feature them on Middle of the Map. Besides that fact that you can customize them in a huge array of colors and fabrics for your wedding, they can also be tied about a million different ways, so they can be worn in any style your maids prefer.
Here’s a picture of some of the lovely ladies who’ve made Sseko sandals, and you can find out more about them and their story at the Sseko website, including pictures, and videos on the blog. However to summarize, here’s what this business is all about:
Sseko Designs is a “not-just-for-profit” enterprise that recognizes the power of business and responsible consumerism to support sustainable economic development, which in turn affects a country’s educational, justice, and health care systems. The goal of Sseko Designs is two-fold: provide university tuition for these promising young women through a sustainable monthly income, while also contributing to the overall economic development of Uganda.
I spoke with Liz, and she told me a little more about where the idea for the wedding line came from:
The inspiration for the wedding line really came from my own wedding in 2009. I got married in May, just a few months after I got back from Uganda. It only made sense to me to have my best friends donning Ssekos as they stood by me during my wedding. We made some special straps from raw silk to fancy them up a bit. Soon after, other soon to be brides were emailing and calling me, wondering if we could make custom straps for their big day. There was enough interest and excitement that the decision to launch a custom wedding line was a bit of a no brainer! Since then, we’ve done hundreds of weddings and I must say, seeing a happy Sseko bride is still one of my favorites parts of the job
Most often, the brides double up and give Ssekos as their bridal party gift. Since the bridesmaids can come back for more straps, long after the wedding is over, it is perfect!
A big thank you to Liz for your awesome business, and passion, and for sharing it with Middle of the Map Weddings.
